Amnesty: North Koreans Executed for Watching ‘Squid Game,’ K-pop

Amnesty International has revealed fresh testimonies alleging that North Koreans, including schoolchildren, have been executed for watching foreign media such as the South Korean drama Squid Game and listening to K-pop.
The rights group said the claims emerged from 25 in-depth interviews with defectors who fled the country. According to the testimonies, South Korean culture is treated as a serious crime, with punishments ranging from re-education camps to execution.
Some interviewees alleged that people were killed for watching or distributing popular dramas like Squid Game, Crash Landing on You, and Descendants of the Sun.
Defectors also claimed that poorer citizens face harsher penalties, while wealthier families often bribe officials to avoid punishment. Several said public executions are used as ideological warnings, with students forced to attend.