Amnesty International: Watching South Korean dramas could cost lives in North Korea

A recent report from Amnesty International states that authorities in North Korea impose harsh penalties that can reach the death penalty for those who watch or circulate foreign media content, particularly South Korean dramas.

According to testimonies from North Korean refugees documented by the organization, Pyongyang considers this type of content a direct threat to what it describes as the ideological identity of the state, treating it as a serious crime that undermines the regime's security.

The report noted that the restrictions are not limited to individual viewing but also include distribution, possession, or even sharing clips, as part of a policy aimed at isolating society from any external cultural influence, amid human rights warnings about the rise in violations of fundamental freedoms.