A 22-year-old man from South Hwanghae province in North Korea was publicly executed in 2022 for watching and sharing South Korean films and music.
The 2024 Report on North Korean Human Rights, released by South Korea’s unification ministry, highlights this incident.
The young man was executed for listening to 70 South Korean songs, watching three films, and distributing the media.
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This incident is part of a broader effort by North Korean authorities to control the flow of outside information, especially among the youth.
The report also details other punishments for engaging in “reactionary” practices influenced by South Korean customs. These include brides wearing white dresses, grooms carrying the bride, wearing sunglasses, or drinking alcohol from wine glasses.
