North Korea’s Cultural Crackdown: A Battle Against South Korean Influence
A Dangerous Diversion
North Korea’s recent execution of a 22-year-old man for listening to 70 K-pop songs and distributing South Korean films exemplifies the extreme lengths the regime goes to control the flow of foreign information and culture. This execution is a chilling reminder of the harsh realities of life in North Korea, where even the most minor exposure to outside influences is met with severe punishment.
The ban on K-pop is part of a larger campaign initiated by former leader Kim Jong-il and intensified under his son Kim Jong-un to protect North Koreans from the perceived negative influence of Western culture. In 2022, the US government-funded Radio Free Asia reported that the regime was cracking down on “capitalist” fashion and hairstyles, targeting skinny jeans, T-shirts with foreign words, and dyed or long hair.
Experts believe that allowing South Korean popular culture to infiltrate North Korean society could threaten the ideology that demands absolute loyalty to the Kim dynasty, which has ruled the country since its founding in 1948.
South Korea’s Cultural Export: An Unstoppable Force
Despite the harsh measures implemented by the North Korean government, the influence of South Korean culture appears to be unstoppable. A recent North Korean defector said, “The speed of South Korean culture influencing North Korea is seriously fast. Young people follow and copy South Korean culture, and they really love anything South Korean.”
Information continues to seep through and be distributed via informal networks, even with the border to China largely sealed off due to the Covid-19 outbreak. In recent weeks, North Korea has retaliated against the launch of balloons from the South containing anti-Pyongyang leaflets, dollar bills, and USB sticks loaded with K-pop and K-dramas by sending thousands of balloons over the border containing waste.
Hidden Resentment: A Crack in the Facade
The defector also shed light on the hidden resentment against the regime, saying, “Of course we cannot say anything bad against Kim Jong-un publicly, but among close friends, lovers or family members, we do say those words.” She added, “After watching Korean dramas, many young people wonder, ‘Why do we have to live like this?’ I thought I’d rather die than live in North Korea.”
This sentiment is a sign of the growing discontent within the North Korean population, a discontent that the regime will struggle to suppress indefinitely. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, it will be increasingly difficult for the Kim dynasty to maintain its iron grip on the North Korean people.
The Cultural Divide: A Growing Chasm
The cultural divide between North and South Korea is a stark reminder of the deep-seated differences that have developed between the two Koreas since their division in 1953. While South Korea has embraced modernity and globalization, North Korea has remained isolated and backward. This cultural gap is a major obstacle to reunification and a source of constant tension between the two countries.
Conclusion: A Struggle for Identity in a Divided Nation
The struggle over South Korean cultural influence in North Korea is a microcosm of the larger struggle for the soul of the Korean nation. As the two Koreas continue to diverge, it remains to be seen whether they will ultimately be able to find common ground and reunite as a single, unified country. The future of the Korean Peninsula hangs in the balance.
Divya