A new Amnesty International report reveals that North Korea is executing citizens for consuming South Korean pop culture while allowing wealthy residents to avoid punishment through bribery.
Amnesty International released a chilling report Wednesday detailing North Korea’s use of public executions for consuming South Korean media. Based on 25 interviews with escapees, the findings reveal that citizens, including schoolchildren, face death for watching shows like Squid Game or listening to BTS. The regime reportedly uses these killings as “ideological education” to maintain strict social control.
The report highlights a “dystopian” legal system where wealth often dictates survival. While the poor face labor camps or execution, wealthier citizens frequently bribe officials to avoid prosecution. “These testimonies show how North Korea is enforcing dystopian laws that mean watching a South Korean TV show can cost you your life – unless you can afford to pay,” stated Sarah Brooks.
Under the 2020 Anti-Reactionary Thought and Culture Act, South Korean content is labeled a “rotten ideology.” Specialist units known as the “109 Group” carry out invasive warrant-less searches of homes and mobile phones to hunt for foreign media. Despite the extreme risks, escapees noted that consumption remains widespread across all levels of society, including among the officials conducting the crackdowns.