"Enjoy Sushi and Fitness in Pyongyang" North Korean 20s YouTube... Subscribers and Views?

Restored Despite Google Sanctions
Presumed Propaganda Video for Regime

YouTuber 'Yumi,' who uploads videos related to Pyongyang, North Korea, is reported to be continuing to post videos despite sanctions. This YouTuber edits and posts daily life of wealthy Pyongyang citizens, but there have been criticisms that it is far from the reality of North Korea.

The YouTube channel 'Yumi's Space (Olivia Natasha - Yumi Space DPRK Daily),' operated by a North Korean woman named Yumi, was launched in June last year and attracted the attention of some netizens.

YouTuber Yumi Introducing Pyongyang, North Korea
Photo by YouTube

This woman mainly posted videos about North Korean home-cooked meals, processed foods, street scenes, and daily life. The videos were similar in style to the popular 'vlog' format in South Korea. Currently, the channel has about 800 subscribers, with 14 videos uploaded, none of which have exceeded 10,000 views each.

Yumi showed herself having luxurious meals with family featuring seafood, learning elegant sports such as horseback riding, ballet, and yoga, and visiting a fitness center known as the so-called 'Unification Street Exercise Center.' At the fitness center, there was also a framed sign that read 'The room visited by Dear Comrade Kim Jong-un.'

Inside Pyongyang 'Tongil Street Sports Center' [Image source=YouTube]

She ate Pyongyang cold noodles and flounder dishes and even promoted 'Kaesong Goryeo Red Ginseng Coffee.' While drinking the coffee herself, she said, "Do you know about Kaesong Goryeo ginseng or red ginseng? The medicinal effects of this herbal medicine are widely known around the world," adding, "Unlike other coffees, drinking this coffee makes me feel good and seems to relieve mental and physical fatigue."

They also promoted North Korean coffee. [Image source=YouTube]

As these videos continued to be posted, netizens at the time criticized them, saying things like "Isn't this propaganda?" "It's far from reality," and "It looks awkward." Yumi explained the purpose of filming the videos as "Because opportunities to visit Pyongyang have decreased since COVID-19, I thought you might be curious," but there are criticisms that the daily life Yumi shows is closer to that of the North Korean leadership. There were also claims that it is a clever propaganda by the North Korean authorities.

Yumi is not the only so-called 'North Korean vlog' YouTuber. Earlier, Google deleted three YouTube channels that had posted North Korean regime propaganda videos, including those of Songah and Yumi, last year. However, Yumi has continuously created new accounts and restored past videos since then.

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