Amnesty International has reported that authorities in North Korea are carrying out severe punishments, including public executions, against individuals accused of watching South Korean television dramas such as Squid Game or listening to K-pop music. According to testimonies gathered from defectors, the crackdown on foreign media consumption is part of a broader effort by the state to eliminate outside cultural influence and reinforce ideological control.
The human rights organization says that enforcement measures are designed to instill fear across communities, with public punishments reportedly conducted as warnings to deter others from accessing banned content. Testimonies describe executions being carried out in front of large crowds, including students, highlighting the extent to which restrictions on foreign media have intensified in recent years.
Amnesty International’s findings suggest that penalties vary depending on an individual’s social standing and economic background. People from poorer families are said to face harsher consequences, including execution or long-term imprisonment, while individuals with wealth or political connections may avoid the most severe outcomes through bribery or influence.
Sarah Brooks of Amnesty International stated that the accounts illustrate how strict cultural control laws can make watching a foreign TV series or listening to South Korean music a life-threatening offense. The report highlights the broader human rights concerns surrounding censorship, freedom of expression, and state control of information in North Korea, where access to foreign entertainment remains tightly restricted under national security and anti-ideological laws.
