The comic music video above is a clip from one of the most popular variety shows in South Korea, MBC’s ‘Infinite Challenge.’ According to a recent report disclosed by a Saenuri Party member, the South Korean comedians in the video may have become just as famous in North Korea as they are in the South. The report claims that South Korean pop culture is extremly popular among North Koreans, including military officers (despite the regime’s efforts to suppress its popularity).
From Naver:
The Korean Wave surges in North Korea…Pyongyang loves Southern variety shows
South Korea’s most beloved variety programmes such as SBS’s ‘Running Man,’ are reportedly very popular in North Korea [click here to watch the very first episode of the show].
While the popularity of South Korean pop culture that began with dramas and movies flowing into North Korea has spread in artistic circles, recently it seems that the so-called ‘South Joseon Wave’ [South Joseon is the name North Korea gives to its southern neighbour], namely the Korean Wave is spreading in all directions.
In particular, the North Korean Military and Public Security Office, who should be keeping the North away from Korean Wave, are no exception to such a trend; efforts to suppress the dissemination of South Korean pop culture have not been very successful.
On 25th [of July], a member of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Comittee, Saenuri Party Representative Yoon Sang-Hyun realeased a paper entitled, ‘Infiltration of the Korean Wave into North Korean Pop Culture,’ which reports that North Korean informants and relevant government agencies have confirmed that many North Koreans are fans of South Korean variety shows, such as SBS’s ‘Running Man‘ and ‘Strong Heart,’ and KBS’s ‘2 Days and 1 Night‘, and MBC’s ‘Infinite Challenge.’
Rep. Yoon said:
Within a week of a Korean TV show hiting the air, it can already be found in North Korean market places […] North Koreans are even enjoying American dramas such as Sex and the City, Desperate Housewives, as well as porn films like ‘Womanizing Bastard.’
As South Korean pop culture is gaining popularity, Korean celebrities too are becoming famous in the North; from actors and actresses such as Kim Nam-joo, Jang Dong-gun and Shin Min-a to the most popular TV presenters like Yoo Jae-seok, Kang Ho-dong, and finally singers like Lee Hyori, 2PM, Girl’s Generation etc.
Is it time for change for North Korea’s popular culture?
Rep. Yoon went on:
South Korean soap operas are popular conversation starters among North Korean youth and women, and some young soldiers are almost addicted to South Korean videos, which lead them to moral education sessions.
The going prices of popular South Korean videos ranges from 1,000 to 4,000 North Korea Won when bought in CD form; the rental prices are about 200 to 300 Won. Porn films are 10,000 won, which is much more expensive than the average salary of North Korean workers (2,000 to 8,000 won).
Rep. Yoon also pointed out that:
As black markets flourish in the North, South Korean videos have become an important product among North Korean merchants…Even high-ranking officials, State Political Security Department officials, and National Police Agency officers are backing the industry, taking bribes; their families and acquaintances are involved in the sales and distribution of products.
And the means of distribution has been changing from video tapes, CDs, and DVDs to USB sticks and external hard drives; which makes it more convenient and allows one to store even more.
The representative products are as follows: films such as My Wife is a Gangster, Public Enemy, Two Cops, and Marriage is a Crazy Thing; soap dramas like Stairway to Heaven, Winter Sonata, Queen of Reversals, The 5th Republic, and Soonpoong Clinic; and variety programs such as The Golden Bell Challenge, Running Man, Sponge, and Strong Heart; finally, there are also a variety of porn films like Red Cherries.
A lot of South Korean celebrities are becoming famous too; Kim Yeon-ja, Na Hoon-a, Song Dae Kwan, Sim Soo-bong, BoA, 2PM, Girl’s Generation, Big Bang, Shin Min-a, Song Hye-kyo, Lee Young Ae, Kwon Sang-woo, Kim Tae-hee, Jang Hyuk, Kang Ho-dong, Yoo Jae-seok, and Song Hae.
Do Girls’ Generation bring the boys out in the North?
The regime is trying hard to build breakwaters protecting the nation from the ‘South Joseon Wave’, punishing anyone who watches or rents South Korean videos with labour discipline, labour reformation (imprisonment), and public execution for those who copy or sell the products. However, according to Rep. Yoon such measures are to no avail.
North Korean authorities have made censorship agencies such as the ‘109 Group‘ and ‘Crackdown on Non-Socialism Groups’ to find and censor South Korean pop culture, yet its popularity has not been mitigated.
Rep. Yoon explained:
Security officers such as censorship officers, State Political Security Department officials, National Police Agency officers, and not forgetting military officers, are all fans of the variety show side of the Korean Wave…high-ranking officials are self-deprecatingly saying that with regard to [the unstoppable Korean wave] they have been completely defeated.
Comments from Naver:
mrhy****:
When we go to Europe or something, they ask us ‘Hey, are you Chinese or Japanese?’ Ha, K-pop fever? That’s only a teeny-tiny part of the population!
08be****:
Aren’t they gonna sell ‘Kim Jong Un’s Chocolate’? [Name of a live music TV show hosted by an actress the same name as Kim Jong-un
tlsr****:
Damn! Even in the North there’s a huge difference between the poor and rich.
toma****:
Oh! Then they must’ve seen Kim Jong-kook’s muscular arms. ke They must be agitated.
papy****:
I’m gonna be rich in the North if I sell pornos from torrents. ke ke ke
kang****:
In North Korea, everything is ‘invented’ and ‘discovered’ by Kim Jong Il, even though it should be credited to great people from foreign countries; what they learn in history class must be sick. BTW, what happened to the rice we’ve sent? With such amounts of food, thousands of people can survive. I don’t understand why North Korean defectors claim that they had never seen such good rice back in the North.
marc****:
Mmm.. ‘With regard to this, high-ranking officials are self-deprecatingly saying that they have been completely defeated.’ Seriously, ‘with regard to this’? What about the rest of regards, except for the ‘Pyongyang Ensemble.’ Their aggressive and bouncy moves to the ‘shoulder dance’ are insurmountable.
ltg1****:
North Koreans have enough opportunities to be exposed to South Korean pop culture. Of course it’s not like they have computers in every household, it’s pretty much like what the South was in the 70s. All villagers are gathered in a rich household, keeping up to date with South Korean news. It became a part of ideology education; admitting the South is wealthier whilst provoking them to steal all those goods from us. But it doesn’t seem to be working. I mean, they aren’t stupid enough to believe that a war is a reasonable way to get that wealth without damaging it. Rather, we should be aware of them feeling left out. They would start to ask ‘Why aren’t rich South Koreans helping us out a little?’
dksl****:
It seems like a fraud. If this Korean Wave thing was only for Pyongyang citizens, then I’d buy into it. But most of them cannot even afford corns to feed themselves!
jjan****:
If a war breaks out, we shall fight by putting on a ‘Kim Jong Il mask.’
dlau****:
I lost interest when the article said ‘USB sticks and external hard drives are commonly used to share videos.’ That means it is the very few elites who are allowed to use computers that are watching those shows.
kunm****:
Seeing what North Koreans do to the regime is so frustrating. The French Revolution and the Russian Revolution are all basically done by hungry commoners; except for secretly putting up posters with vulgar words, why aren’t those morons in the North doing anything?
xogu****:
They must have been brainwashed that ‘the South is a beggar country’ thing. When you watch those CDs, what does Seoul look like to you guys? ^^ Behold, our wealth. Feel it, the difference between the two Koreas.
etha****:
Invite Kim Jong Un onto ‘Running Man.’ Since he loves theme parks, record it in Lotte World .. Promise him free Bulgogi Burgers, and he’ll accept the deal without hesitation.
hyj7****:
Come unification, can I seduce North Korean women by buying them cool jeans and hooded t-shirts, feeding them Chinese food, and hanging out at K-pop concerts with them?
ckff****:
tsk tsk.. They’re slowly polluted by the South’s mentality. Total collapse of the regime is just a matter of time. But if the North collapses, I’m sure Chinks are gonna try to swallow it. MB’s tough attitude toward the North isn’t helping us either. I think we’ve gotta start building a ‘North-friendly’ image.
khh1****:
Becoming a rich nation doesn’t mean much to me anymore. I want this nation to help every individual become happy.
jip6****:
When the ‘Southern Wave’ is in full swing, then there should be a revolution in the North. They’re going to realize how much they’ve been fooled by the authorities.
dong****:
West German TV shows were one of the biggest factors to bring the end to East Germany; they both used the same broadcast signals. Those TV shows woke the East up. Although the North and South have different signals, I heard there’s a TV model which enables people watch both of the signals, available in China. What we’ve got to do is to send KBS programs, so North Koreans living near the 38th parallel can watch them. Let them know how much they’re deceived by the Kim family.
toni****:
Good, good! They’re falling down.
