North Korea executes man for listening to 70 K-pop songs
The recent news of a man being executed in North Korea for listening to 70 K-pop songs is a stark reminder of the oppressive regime that governs the country. The fact that listening to music can warrant a death penalty is chilling, to say the least. While the man was also distributing South Korean media, including movies, it is clear that it is not the act of listening to the music itself that is being punished, but rather the broader issue of state control and suppression of any form of cultural influence from the outside world.
I find it hypocritical that the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, who reportedly loves the K-pop group Red Velvet and even had them perform for him and others in North Korea a few years ago, would allow such extreme measures to be taken against someone for the same actions that he himself enjoys.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker