In early February, reports surfaced from human rights researchers stating that North Korean authorities executed teenagers for watching the critically acclaimed South Korean series “Squid Game” and for listening to K-pop music.
According to testimonies from defectors with family connections in Ryōedo, students, including those in high school, faced execution solely for being fans of the popular survival drama. Amnesty International also highlighted the broader implications, noting that elsewhere in the country, individuals suffer forced labor sentences and public humiliation for lacking financial or political resources.
Kim Jun-sik, a 28-year-old who fled North Korea in 2019, recounted that usually, high school students caught in similar situations only receive warnings if their families can afford bribes. He noted, “We were able to avoid legal repercussions thanks to our connections.”
Jun-sik went on to share that several of his sister’s friends were sentenced to lengthy stays in labor camps after they were caught watching Korean dramas, again highlighting the impact of financial status on the severity of punishments.
According to Sarah Brooks, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director, the government’s tight grip on information criminalizes access to it, directly violating international law. She explained, “This creates a system where officials profit from the fear instilled in the populace. This reality is especially crushing for those without wealth or powerful connections.”
Brooks also emphasized that the government’s fear of external information has entrapped citizens in an “ideological cage,” severely restricting their access to diverse perspectives. Those who aspire to learn about the outside world or seek simple entertainment face daunting penalties.
Furthermore, numerous North Korean defectors have reported being compelled to witness public executions during their school years, a grim process seen as state-sponsored indoctrination aimed at instilling fear of foreign influences. Kim Eun-joo, a 40-year-old defector, shared her experience, saying, “When we were in middle school, at ages 16 or 17, they took us to the execution site. People have faced execution for just watching or distributing Korean media. It’s a form of ideological education—if you watch, this could be your fate.”
