"Not Given Leniency for Being Young"... North Korea Sentences Middle School Student to 14 Years of Labor Reform for Korean Movie 'Ajeossi'

Parents Also Expected to Be Punished
Severe Sentences Given Last Month to Students Who Watched 'Ojingeo Game'

Movie 'The Man from Nowhere' still cut

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] A North Korean middle school student was sentenced to 14 years of forced labor reform after watching the South Korean movie "The Man from Nowhere" for just 5 minutes.

On the 1st, Daily NK, a media outlet specializing in North Korea, cited sources from Yanggang Province and reported, "On the 7th, a 14-year-old student A from a middle school in Hyesan City was caught 5 minutes after starting to watch the movie 'The Man from Nowhere' and was sentenced to 14 years of forced labor reform."

Previously, North Korea enacted the Anti-Reactionary Thought and Culture Expulsion Law last year, which states that "anyone who directly watches, listens to, or keeps South Korean movies, recordings, edited materials, books, songs, paintings, or photos shall be sentenced to forced labor reform for not less than 5 years and not more than 15 years."

Daily NK added, "The fact that the minor A was given the same level of punishment as an adult suggests that the North Korean authorities intend to send a message that they will not show leniency just because someone is young."

They also pointed out that North Korea might be trying to create an atmosphere of fear, recognizing that South Korean content is currently popular among North Korean youth.

Pyongyang Kim Il-sung Square.
Photo by Yonhap News

A’s parents are also expected to be punished. North Korean law specifies that "if reactionary thought and culture crimes occur due to irresponsible education and guidance of children, a fine of 100,000 to 200,000 won shall be imposed."

However, the media expressed concerns that A’s parents might face expulsion or be sent to political prison camps rather than just a fine. If their child is sentenced to a heavy punishment, it could be judged as a problem of lineage, leading to punishment of the parents as well.

Poster of the Netflix drama 'Squid Game'. / Photo by Netflix

Meanwhile, last month, North Korea reportedly sentenced high school students who watched the South Korean Netflix drama "Squid Game" to heavy punishments and executed the seller.

On the 23rd of last month (local time), Radio Free Asia (RFA), a U.S.-based North Korea news site, reported that seven high school students in Chongjin City, North Hamgyong Province, were caught by the 109th Military Joint Command’s inspection while watching "Squid Game."

At that time, the resident who brought in and sold the USB device containing "Squid Game" from China was executed, the student who purchased and watched it was sentenced to life imprisonment, and the other students who watched it together received 5 years of forced labor reform.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.