According to South Korea, North Korea has carried out a public execution of a 22-year-old citizen for simply listening to and sharing K-pop music and films.
According to testimonies published in the North Korean Human Rights report released by the South’s unification ministry on Thursday, a man from South Hwanghae province in the Hermit Kingdom was executed in 2022 for listening to 70 South Korean songs, watching three films, and distributing them publicly.
According to a report that compiles testimonies from 649 defectors from North Korea, it is evident that the regime is cracking down on Western influence and efforts to bring in information into the isolated country. The report sheds light on the brutal approach taken by Pyongyang towards this issue.
In order to protect its citizens from what it deems to be the negative impact of Western culture, North Korea has strengthened its ban on K-pop. The country adopted a new law in 2020 that specifically targets “reactionary ideology and culture”, which further tightens the restrictions on K-pop. The aim is to prevent what North Korea sees as the harmful influence of Western culture on its people.
According to the North, the accusations against the government for committing serious human rights violations are merely a part of a larger scheme to overthrow the current leadership. Despite facing criticism, the North remains steadfast in their position.
Practices that are considered “reactionary” are also penalized, including what is perceived as South Korean customs, such as brides wearing white dresses, grooms carrying the bride, sunglasses, and drinking alcohol from wine glasses.
The report details that mobile phone inspections are a common occurrence for North Koreans, wherein their contact names, expressions, and slang terms are thoroughly scrutinized.
North Korea’s government was strongly criticized by Human Rights Watch in their 2023 world report. According to the report, the government’s stance on pluralism is intolerant, and they have banned independent media, civil society organizations, and trade unions. The report also highlights how the government systematically denies its citizens basic liberties, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and freedom of religion and belief.
According to a female defector in her early 20s, the influence of South Korean culture on North Korea is advancing rapidly. She states that the younger generation is particularly fond of South Korean culture and tends to emulate it. “Young people follow and copy South Korean culture, and they really love anything South Korean,” she explains.
According to The Guardian, many young people question their way of living after watching Korean dramas. One woman even expressed, “I thought I’d rather die than live in North Korea.”
She added that while it’s not acceptable to speak negatively about Kim Jong-un publicly, it’s not uncommon for people to do so among their close friends, family, or romantic partners.
According to human rights groups, North Korea has previously conducted executions in prison camps and villages, often in front of crowds.
The organization has altered its tactics by refraining from carrying out executions in densely populated residential areas. This change in strategy has made it harder for authorities to monitor attendees. Additionally, the group has ceased conducting executions in border regions and at facilities that can be easily tracked by satellites.
On Tuesday, the South vowed to resume its anti-Pyongyang frontline propaganda broadcasts in response to North Korea’s recent trash-carrying balloon launches. This marks another instance of Cold War-style campaigns between the two rivals.
In an apparent retaliation to South Korean activists flying political leaflets via balloons, North Korea has launched its fifth campaign since late May. The campaign involves floating massive balloons carrying plastic bags of garbage across the border.
Despite the passage of time, the two Koreas remain in a state of war as the 1950-1953 Korean War was concluded with an armistice, not a peace treaty.
