Dong-ho Han
Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) – Senior Research Fellow
Crash Landing on You, a globally popular K-Drama, tells the story of a North Korean soldier and a South Korean woman who fall in love, sparking a wave of Hallyu (Korean Wave) in North Korea. Many North Korean defectors who have settled in South Korea have admitted that this and many other Korean dramas provided them with a glimpse of what freedom is when they were in North Korea. The infiltration of Hallyu, particularly through Korean dramas and movies, into North Korea is not a recent phenomenon. While the world is enthusiastic about K-pop and other aspects of Hallyu, North Koreans have also begun to admire South Korean culture.
Kim Jong-un, who initially embraced elements of American culture, such as Mickey Mouse, during the early days of his regime, is aware of the influence of Hallyu. However, Kim Jong-un’s North Korea is now more oppressive and wary of Hallyu than ever. He knows that if the atmosphere of freedom dominates North Korean society, it would mean the end of his regime. Notable examples include the Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Act enacted in 2020 and the Pyongyang Cultural Language Protection Act enacted in 2023. The common goal of these oddly named laws is to block the spirit of freedom rising from the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. For instance, under the Pyongyang Cultural Language Protection Act, mimicking South Korean accent is considered an act of treason against the state and is subject to severe punishment.
However, the current generation of North Korean youth, who have grown up around the black market known as Jangmadang, is entirely different from their parents’ generation, who were obedient to the orders of the supreme leader. Korean dramas and movies have already captivated the minds of these young North Koreans. Jeong Yu-na, a North Korean defector who recently made headlines after being appointed as an aide to the world-renowned investor Jim Rogers, mentioned in a public lecture that South Korean dramas were crucial in her decision to defect. In a recent lecture, South Korean Unification Minister Kim Young-ho also pointed out that 83% of North Korean residents have watched South Korean dramas and that such experiences are a major reason for defection.
However, the changes sought by North Korean youth are being obstructed by an external force: China. Inspired by the atmosphere of freedom from outside, those who boldly cross the Tumen River or Yalu River in pursuit of their own destinies encounter another oppressive force—China’s strict public security crackdowns and forced repatriation. For decades, the Chinese government’s attitude and policies toward North Korean defectors have remained unchanged. Instead of recognizing them as individuals with rights to freedom and dignity, Chinese authorities treat them merely as illegal immigrants or economic migrants. Defectors are rigorously tracked down and forcibly repatriated to North Korea. Once repatriated, they are treated as traitors, facing torture, inhumane treatment, and even execution.
In that sense, China’s forced repatriation of defectors is an egregious violation of freedom and human rights, which significantly undermines China’s global standing. Recent reports reveal that the Chinese government continues to crack down on and repatriate defectors living within its borders. The liberalization movement in North Korea cannot be stopped. History has shown that no force can suppress the passion and determination of young people striving for freedom. China fears that improving its treatment of defectors could incite issues with its own ethnic minorities. However, the greatest challenge China faces is the growing, invisible resistance of its people against a government that suppresses freedom. Even if not yet prominent, this resistance will become more evident overtime. The Chinese government should cease repatriating defectors and demonstrate to the world that it is a forward – thinking government that upholds the universal values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. This approach would ensure long-term stability for both North Korea and China. The relentless pursuit of freedom and the mounting anger toward oppressive regimes continue to progress in exorably.
