A 22-year-old man from South Hwanghae province in North Korea was publicly executed for violating the country's strict laws against consuming South Korean pop culture, according to a recent human rights report from South Korea’s unification ministry.
The young man was accused of listening to 70 South Korean songs, watching three South Korean films, and sharing them with others. These activities were deemed illegal under North Korea’s 2020 law that prohibits “reactionary ideology and culture,” which aims to shield North Koreans from what the regime perceives as corrupting influences from the West and South Korea.
The crackdown on South Korean pop culture, including K-pop music and K-dramas, is part of a broader campaign initiated under former leader Kim Jong-il and intensified under his successor, Kim Jong-un. The regime views such cultural imports as a threat to its control over the populace and aims to enforce strict ideological conformity.
North Korean defectors have reported that exposure to South Korean media has sparked dissatisfaction among the youth, leading some to question their living conditions and contemplate defection. The regime closely monitors mobile phones and conducts inspections for any signs of foreign influence, including language, contacts, and expressions.
Activities considered “reactionary” or influenced by foreign cultures, such as wearing certain clothes or hairstyles, are met with severe punishment, reflecting the regime's determination to maintain ideological purity and control over its population.
The execution underscores the harsh consequences faced by North Koreans who engage with foreign media or express dissenting views, highlighting the oppressive nature of the regime’s control over its citizens’ lives and thoughts.
