Amnesty International has collected testimony that claims North Korea is publicly executing teenagers for watching the South Korean show Squid Game. People who escaped the country say Kim Jong Un‘s government is giving death sentences, hard labor camp sentences, and public humiliation to citizens caught watching outside entertainment.
According to LAD Bible, if someone is caught watching K-Pop or popular dramas like Descendants of the Sun or Crash Landing on You, they could face death. In 2020, the government created the “Elimination of Reactionary Thought and Culture” law. This law makes it a crime punishable by death to watch, distribute, or own media from outside the country, especially content from South Korea or the US.
In 2021, a man was sentenced to death by firing squad after he was caught smuggling and selling copies of Squid Game on USB sticks. The students who bought the media were also punished. One student received a life sentence, while six other teenagers got five years of hard labor. Even their teachers were fired and faced being sent to work in the mines.
Public executions are used to scare and control the population
The authorities use these public executions as a form of “ideological education.” Escapees said people are forced to watch the executions as a warning. Choi Suvin, a 39-year-old woman who fled North Korea in 2019, described massive gatherings. She said, “Authorities told everyone to go, and tens of thousands of people from Sinuiju city gathered to watch.” She explained, “They execute people to brainwash and educate us.”
Other escapees remembered that when they were teenagers, their schools took them to watch these executions. The victims were executed for watching or distributing South Korean media, with the clear warning that the same would happen to anyone else who watched. While fans globally continue to enjoy the series and wonder about when season 4 will arrive, North Koreans face deadly consequences for simply watching it.
Escapees claim it’s an open secret that people across the country, including those in power, are watching these forbidden shows. They stated, “Workers watch it openly, party officials watch it proudly, security agents watch it secretly, and police watch it safely. Everyone knows everyone watches, including those who do the crackdowns.”
Average citizens who can’t afford bribes suffer the most. Wealthier citizens sometimes sell their homes to pay bribes and escape serious punishment, but most people don’t have that option. This control extends to nearly every part of life inside what escapee Timothy Cho calls a “prison country.”
The show’s creator has also shared insights about the scrapped ending featuring Cate Blanchett, showing how the series continues to generate worldwide interest. Very few people have access to mobile phones, and even those are reserved for the elite. Messages and calls are constantly monitored, and there is no internet access, no YouTube, and no Facebook.
When someone buys a TV, police visit the home to remove all but one channel, which shows continuous Kim family programming. Even basic freedoms like clothing and travel are restricted. Cho noted you can’t wear jeans because they are considered American production and America is the greatest enemy. Travel between neighboring towns requires specific permissions and documents.
Published: Feb 4, 2026 01:40 pm