K-ENTERTAINMENT NEWS 

Being a Hallyu Fan In North Korea

Comfort and escapism; Hallyu has brought not only joy but also solace to several young people. Listening to South Korean Pop Music and following Korean celebrities is one way for teenagers to escape the reality they live in.

Most fans can’t thank them enough for how big of a help it was fighting their silent battles. But it’s not the same for everyone. You may be jiving to your K-Pop playlist thousands of miles away from the artists. But that’s not the case for the North Korean teens; who are closer to your favorites. Enjoying the tunes of K-Pop can be the cause of their death.

North Korea is not exempt from the BTS sensation. Young North Koreans are like us who loved their music for their meaningful lyrics that resonate to “love themselves.” Indoctrinated to be loyal to their country, many were baffled to hear such as self-care for the individual. According to the South Korean press in 2021, students of Anju Middle School were listening to BTS’, “Blood, Sweat & Tears” on an MP3 player while belting out its lyrics. Investigated by North Korea’s Workers’ Party for engaging in “reactionary ideology and culture,” violating the newly adopted North Korean law; forbidding information coming outside the country, including South Korean entertainment media and broadcasts.

In the same year, The New York Times reported that the hermit kingdom has allegedly done public executions of seven people who were caught watching and distributing South Korean entertainment materials to the world’s most isolated and secretive country. The reports were backed by sources, such as the news website NK Daily.

While the rest of the world is obsessed with Netflix’s Squid Game, Radio Free Asia reported that North Korea has sentenced a man to death by firing squad for smuggling and selling the hit drama. A high school student who purchased a USB drive associated with the show was sentenced to life in prison. Six high school students who watched the show were also sentenced to five years of hard labor, with their teachers and school administrators fired, and possibly banished to work in remote mines.

Credit: Netflix

The North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, labels this a “vicious cancer,” that corrupts North Koreans’ minds.

Related posts