N. Koreans really like those S. Korean dramas

by Robert Koehler on July 25, 2012

in Inter-Korean Issues, Korean Culture, North Korea

The JoongAng Ilbo, citing materials prepared by a Saenuri Party lawmaker, reports that South Korean dramas are really, really popular in North Korea.

So popular they are, in fact, that if you don’t want’em, you’ve got nothing to talk about at the water cooler.

Apparently, episodes of Korean dramas reach North Korea within a week of their original broadcast—not as good as Pirate Bay, but still pretty impressive. Even the military and security forces watch them.

South Korean dramas and movies are reportedly costly, too. A popular South Korean video will cost about half the average North Korean worker’s wage. Adult material costs more than the average monthly wage (Marmot’s Note: Paying for Korean ero films—that’s the kind of economic decision-making that made North Korea the industrial titan it is today). Party figures and security personnel apparently watch the backs of merchants trading in these goods, receiving bribes in return. Some even get their friends and family members involved.

Distribution is moving from tapes, CDs and DVDs to USBs and external hard drives. The content, too, is diversifying, with Korean dramas, TV shows and adult films joined recently by American dramas like “Sex and the City” and “Desperate Housewives.”

Marmot’s Note: Assuming his mysterious lady friend is force-feeding him episodes of “Sex and the City” and “Desperate Housewives,” it’s amazing Kim Jong-un looks so chipper. And can only hope for the sake of his mental health that they’re also sneaking in episodes of “Person of Interest,” too. “Falling Skies,” too, since the second season seems much improved.

Tagged as: Korean Wave

{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

1 R. Elgin July 26, 2012 at 1:04 am: I suspect that this sharing of cultural entertainment will be very, very important somewhere down the road.
2 jk6411 July 26, 2012 at 1:14 am: R. Elgin,

I sure hope so.
3 SomeguyinKorea July 26, 2012 at 1:16 am: #1,

Of course it will. That’s also why the North Korean government doesn’t want people to watch these shows.
4 iMe July 26, 2012 at 1:17 am: Agree w/ Elgin. I wonder what they think though as they watch these (often) ultra beautiful people doing ultra lavish things and generally doing what I assume they’re forbidden to do. This is really fascinating.
5 cghlee027 July 26, 2012 at 1:45 am: It seems like they found out who the lady next to KJU was..

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/26/world/asia/north-korean-leader-marries-reports-say.html
6 Cloud July 26, 2012 at 6:56 am: South Korean flag displayed with North Korean players’ photos at Olympics:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-18991619
7 WangKon936 July 26, 2012 at 7:30 am: To that, I give the U.K. the following reminder:

http://tinyurl.com/3ca5sw4
8 Dogbertt July 26, 2012 at 8:08 am: What happened to using the “Unification Flag” at sporting events?
9 WangKon936 July 26, 2012 at 9:15 am: It’s in the 2006 Winter Olympics dust bin.
10 Wedge July 26, 2012 at 10:35 am: I was wondering when we’d see photos of our beloved revoultionary sweetheart.
11 Wedge July 26, 2012 at 10:56 am: #6: Good one on the organisers (sic). Of course that was probably due to utter ignorance, but I’d like to think someone knew what he was doing.