"I Regret Watching South Korean Dramas": Video Shows Weeping North Korean Soldiers

[Anchor]

North Korean authorities have been found punishing soldiers who watched so-called "impure video materials," including South Korean dramas, and using footage of the punishments as ideological education materials. Watching banned videos is reportedly likened to acts aiding the enemy and treason.

Reporter Kim Ayeong has the details.

[Reporter]

This is video footage released by the U.S.-based Radio Free Asia, identified as ideological educational material intended for the North Korean military.

Soldiers and women dressed in civilian clothing stand with their heads bowed, and moments later, handcuffs are placed on their wrists.

They appear to be undergoing public punishment after being caught watching so-called impure audio and video materials, such as South Korean dramas and movies.

A speaker argues for summary executions.

"[In the name of all military unit workers, I strongly urge that those thoroughly steeped in imperialist ideology, culture, and lifestyle be summarily executed and dealt a ruthless hammer blow.]"

Next, a series of photographs appears showing soldiers in the act of watching something on their mobile phones.

The use of mobile phones by military personnel is strictly forbidden by North Korea's Workers' Party, but there have been cases where soldiers broke the rule to secretly watch and distribute banned footage.

"[In the end, civilian cell phones guided them down the path of treason and counter-revolution, ultimately ruining their lives.]"

A punished soldier writes a letter and weeps, saying that getting caught was only a matter of time.

"[While watching impure recordings once or twice, the speech of the puppets gradually filled my mind and... I truly regret it, I deeply regret it.]"

Another soldier appearing in the video stated that offenders caught watching outside videos were sentenced to more than five years of reform through labor, and that they are not even granted pardons.

North Korea's compilation of these crackdowns into separate educational materials appears to reflect its vigilance against the infiltration of outside culture, including South Korean media, into its military ranks.

Radio Free Asia reported that the videos were produced in 2023 and continue to be used as internal educational materials.

Video by Cho Mu-hwan | Footage courtesy of RFA
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.