Quick access to main page (top) Direct access to main contents Quick access to main page (bottom)

North Korean Teenagers Sentenced to 12 Years of Hard Labor for Watching K-Drama

Eugene Park Views  

수갑 차고 수백명 앞에서 고개 '뚝'…12년 노동형 받은 北 10대 소년들, 무슨 죄 지었길래
Teenage boys are being handcuffed for watching a Korean drama. / BBC News screen capture

North Korean authorities sentenced two teenage boys for watching Korean dramas, according to footage released by foreign media.

The BBC reported on the 18th (local time) that it had obtained rare footage of two teenage boys being sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for watching a Korean drama in North Korea.

The BBC described footage, apparently from 2002, showing two 16-year-old boys handcuffed and positioned in front of a large gathering of students in an outdoor stadium.

Additionally, the broadcaster noted that the footage includes scenes of police officers chastising the boys for their lack of profound reflection on their actions.

According to the BBC, the footage includes commentary saying that South Korean culture has spread even to teenagers in North Korea, and they are ruining their future.

This footage was reportedly provided by the South and North Development (SAND), a research institute that works with defectors from the North.

수갑 차고 수백명 앞에서 고개 '뚝'…12년 노동형 받은 北 10대 소년들, 무슨 죄 지었길래
Photo: BBC news screen capture

According to the BBC, in the past, minors who broke the law were punished under five years on average.

However, the situation has changed since 2020, when North Korea enacted a law that imposes the death penalty for watching or distributing South Korean entertainment.

One defector told the BBC, “If you get caught watching an American drama, you can get away with a bribe, but if you watch a Korean drama, you get shot,” adding, “South Korean dramas are a ‘drug’ that helps them forget their harsh reality.”

A defector in his 20s suggested that there is a stark contrast between the depiction of South Korea in North Korean education and its portrayal in South Korean dramas. This discrepancy, he believes, is a cause of concern for North Korean authorities, as it challenges the narrative taught within the country.

According to the BBC, the era known as South Korea’s “Sunshine Policy” in the 2000s marked the beginning of North Koreans’ exposure to South Korean entertainment. Despite the South Korean government ceasing this policy in 2010, citing its ineffectiveness in altering North Korea’s stance, the influx of South Korean entertainment into North Korea persisted, primarily through channels in China.

Eugene Park
content@www.kangnamtimes.com

Comments0

300

Comments0

[KOREA] Latest Stories

  • MrBeast Effect: How His Surprise Cameo Shakes Up YouTube
  • Rob Schneider's Stand-Up Scandal: Actor's Racially Insensitive Remarks Shock Politicians
  • FIFTY FIFTY: Second Phase and Comeback in the Works
  • Seoul City Threatens to Cut Power to Controversial Adult Video Festival
  • 'City Fisherman' Season 5 Wraps Up with Thrilling Final Showdown
  • Genesis Magma Division Sets New Standards in Performance

Weekly Best Articles

  • Trump vs. Harris: Which U.S. Election Outcome Will Boost Stocks the Most?
  • Kim Sejeong on Kiss Scene Prep: ‘It’s Like Laying the Foundation for a Building!’
  • Kim Tae Ri’s Character Faces Devastating Setback in ‘Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born’
  • Lee Seung Gi Goes Bald! Shocking Change for His Role in ‘About Family’
  • Man Who Sponsored $1.2M to Streamer Juice Se Yeon Says She Blocked Him After Scandals
  • BTS Music Video Star and Tattoo Model Kim Woo Young Remembered 6 Years Later
  • Outback’s Last Ride: Subaru Launches 30th Anniversary Edition with Exclusive Features
  • Chrysler’s 2025 SUV: A Glimpse into the Future of Electric Vehicles
  • Fiat’s ‘Ugliest Car’ Makes a Comeback with Hyundai’s Pixel Design Twist
  • THIS is the Country Jensen Huang Thinks Will Lead the AI Revolution
  • Volkswagen Shutting Down German Plant for the First Time Ever—Big Layoffs Expected
  • Kim Nam Gil Spills Secrets About The Fiery Priest 2—Why Fans Should Be Excited

You May Also Like

  • 1
    Kim Nam Gil Spills Secrets About The Fiery Priest 2—Why Fans Should Be Excited

    ENTERTAINMENT 

  • 2
    Google's Tax Tricks: How They Pay Pennies on Billions in Korean Revenue

    BUSINESS 

  • 3
    BJ Juice Se Yeon Deletes ‘Suspicious’ Photo with Kim Haon—Fans Speculate Romance

    ENTERTAINMENT 

  • 4
    G-Dragon’s Secret Addiction? The K-pop Star Can’t Stop Watching Dating Shows

    ENTERTAINMENT 

  • 5
    Chef Triple Star Shows Up at Event Despite Explosive Cheating and Embezzlement Claims

    ENTERTAINMENT 

Popular Now

  • 1
    Jaehyun Joins the Military—Here’s What Happens to His Career While He’s Away

    ENTERTAINMENT 

  • 2
    BMW M3 to Feature 600 HP Mild Hybrid Powertrain—No Plug-in Hybrid Here!

    TECH 

  • 3
    Subaru BRZ Purple Edition: Only 500 Units Available in North America for $35,445

    TECH 

  • 4
    Brazil’s Beloved Nivus Gets a Facelift: New GTS Model Starts at $24,480

    TECH 

  • 5
    Tesla’s Roadster Returns: 621 Miles on One Charge and Insane Speed

    TECH 

Weekly Best Articles

  • Trump vs. Harris: Which U.S. Election Outcome Will Boost Stocks the Most?
  • Kim Sejeong on Kiss Scene Prep: ‘It’s Like Laying the Foundation for a Building!’
  • Kim Tae Ri’s Character Faces Devastating Setback in ‘Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born’
  • Lee Seung Gi Goes Bald! Shocking Change for His Role in ‘About Family’
  • Man Who Sponsored $1.2M to Streamer Juice Se Yeon Says She Blocked Him After Scandals
  • BTS Music Video Star and Tattoo Model Kim Woo Young Remembered 6 Years Later
  • Outback’s Last Ride: Subaru Launches 30th Anniversary Edition with Exclusive Features
  • Chrysler’s 2025 SUV: A Glimpse into the Future of Electric Vehicles
  • Fiat’s ‘Ugliest Car’ Makes a Comeback with Hyundai’s Pixel Design Twist
  • THIS is the Country Jensen Huang Thinks Will Lead the AI Revolution
  • Volkswagen Shutting Down German Plant for the First Time Ever—Big Layoffs Expected
  • Kim Nam Gil Spills Secrets About The Fiery Priest 2—Why Fans Should Be Excited

Must-Reads

  • 1
    Kim Nam Gil Spills Secrets About The Fiery Priest 2—Why Fans Should Be Excited

    ENTERTAINMENT 

  • 2
    Google's Tax Tricks: How They Pay Pennies on Billions in Korean Revenue

    BUSINESS 

  • 3
    BJ Juice Se Yeon Deletes ‘Suspicious’ Photo with Kim Haon—Fans Speculate Romance

    ENTERTAINMENT 

  • 4
    G-Dragon’s Secret Addiction? The K-pop Star Can’t Stop Watching Dating Shows

    ENTERTAINMENT 

  • 5
    Chef Triple Star Shows Up at Event Despite Explosive Cheating and Embezzlement Claims

    ENTERTAINMENT 

Popular Now

  • 1
    Jaehyun Joins the Military—Here’s What Happens to His Career While He’s Away

    ENTERTAINMENT 

  • 2
    BMW M3 to Feature 600 HP Mild Hybrid Powertrain—No Plug-in Hybrid Here!

    TECH 

  • 3
    Subaru BRZ Purple Edition: Only 500 Units Available in North America for $35,445

    TECH 

  • 4
    Brazil’s Beloved Nivus Gets a Facelift: New GTS Model Starts at $24,480

    TECH 

  • 5
    Tesla’s Roadster Returns: 621 Miles on One Charge and Insane Speed

    TECH 

Share it on...