North Koreans face death penalty for listening to K-pop, watching Squid Game

North Koreans who watch South Korean television shows or listen to K-pop risk the death penalty, according to testimonies gathered by Amnesty International.

Witnesses told the human rights organisation that authorities have arrested and, in some cases, executed people for consuming foreign media, particularly content from South Korea.

South Korean culture is treated as a serious crime

According to those who testified, South Korean entertainment is viewed as one of the gravest cultural offences under Kim Jong-Un.

“They say they have witnessed people being arrested and killed for the fact that they have watched, in particular, South Korean culture,” one account revealed.

Popular global hits such as Squid Game and K-pop music were singled out as especially harshly punished. The dystopian Netflix series, which became a worldwide phenomenon, is reportedly among the most targeted imports.

In one case cited during the discussion, a student was allegedly sentenced to death five years ago for smuggling copies of Squid Game into the country.

“It’s weirdly dystopian to be put to death for watching Squid Game,” said international correspondent Adam Gilchrist in an interview on 702.

Bribes allegedly shield the wealthy

Testimonies also suggest that enforcement may not be applied equally.

Those from wealthier families are reportedly able to bribe officials to avoid severe punishment, while ordinary citizens face the full force of the law.

The claims paint a picture of a country where foreign entertainment is treated not merely as cultural influence, but as a threat to state control, with life-or-death consequences.

While independent verification inside North Korea remains extremely difficult, the accounts add to longstanding allegations of harsh crackdowns on outside media in one of the world’s most closed societies.

For more details, listen to Gilchrist using the audio player below: