The controversial mask with the face of Kim Jong-un launched in South Korea | World

The company claims to have sold more than 25,000 units of the "hydrating nuclear mask" since June of this year.

Despite this, many South Korean stores have stopped selling the product after the controversy – and after the legality of the use of the image of Kim Jong-un began to be put into doubt.

The United Nations accuses the North Korean leader and the regime he directed of being accused of "systematic and widespread" violations of human rights.

It is forbidden to defend the North Korean regime in South Korea, although sanctions for this reason are very rare.

North Korea and South Korea are technically at war, but leaders of both countries have been participating in peace talks this year to denuclearize their armed forces.

The so-called "nuclear masks" were created by 5149, a Korean fashion and cosmetics company.

The advertising text accompanying the product indicates that the masks contain mineral water from Mount Paektu, a volcano. active. In Korean mythology, Paektu is considered sacred because it is supposed to be the birthplace of warrior Dangun, founder of the first Korean kingdom more than four thousand years ago.

In an interview with the New York Times, 5149 CEO Kwak Hyeon-ju said that his goal was for the product to celebrate the "unprecedented" meeting of South and North Korea leaders. year.

Several South Koreans have published social media photos using the mask, which costs 4,000 won (about R $ 13.80) per unit. Nevertheless, many traders preferred to remove the product from the tablets, after the mask was severely criticized by local media.

"Personally, I do not like products that promote a political agenda," said Irene Kim, skin care specialist in South Korea, at the South China Morning Post.

"A few years ago, North Korea was a major threat to our country … Kim Jong-un was seen as a dictator and a tyrant who would stop for nothing in his attempt to end to peace, face of a popular mask, "she added.

Kim Jong-a commands North Korea since the death of his former leader Kim Jong-il in 2011.