North Koreans Face Execution for Watching K-Drama, Listening to K-Pop – Amnesty
Reports reaching Wiz9jablog from multiple international sources indicate that North Koreans caught watching South Korean movies, dramas, or listening to K-pop are facing severe punishment, including public execution.
Findings released by Amnesty International revealed that the North Korean government has intensified its crackdown on foreign media, especially content from South Korea such as Squid Game and music from global K-pop stars like BTS. The report claims that even young people are not spared under the strict enforcement.
Testimonies from defectors suggest that in some cases, schoolchildren are forced to watch executions as a warning against consuming banned foreign content. While wealthy citizens and politically connected families reportedly escape harsh punishment through bribery, ordinary citizens often face the full weight of the law.
Human rights observers say despite the dangers, South Korean entertainment continues to circulate secretly within the country. One widely reported case in 2021 involved a student accused of smuggling Squid Game into North Korea, who was allegedly executed, while others connected to the incident were sentenced to life imprisonment or hard labour.
The crackdown is being enforced under North Korea’s 2020 law targeting foreign culture and media, particularly from South Korea. Amnesty International described the situation as highly repressive, warning that access to outside information has effectively been criminalised in the country.
