Amnesty International Warns of Severe Penalties for Watching South Korean Dramas in North Korea

A report from Amnesty International indicates that North Korean authorities enforce severe penalties, potentially including the death penalty, for individuals who watch or share foreign media content, especially South Korean dramas.

Testimonies from North Korean defectors documented by the organization reveal that the regime perceives such media as a direct challenge to its ideological framework, categorizing it as a serious offense that threatens national security.

The report emphasizes that these restrictions extend beyond personal viewing to encompass the distribution, possession, and sharing of foreign media clips, as part of a broader strategy to insulate the population from external cultural influences. This approach has raised concerns regarding escalating violations of fundamental human rights.