How shamanism and fortune-telling persist in the two Koreas
The occult movie Exhuma recently surpassed box-office sales of 10 million in South Korea and is currently showing in 133 countries, but audiences in North...
The consequences of loyalty and disloyalty in North Korea
Towards the end of his long career, Kim Ki-nam had good reason to worry about his future. As North Korea’s longtime propaganda chief, he had...
When free medical treatment is not free
"Oh, are you a North Korean defector?" the South Korean man at the book club asked me politely. "If it's not too intrusive, may I...
Kim Jong-un and the campaign of coerced adulation
Congratulations, your congratulatory message is on TV. In North Korea, where the leadership never seems to tire of being congratulated, there's a tradition of showcasing...
Companies in China prepare to employ more North Korean workers
Companies in China are reportedly preparing to employ North Korean workers. Firms in the Chinese border city of Dandong, across the Yalu River from the...
Animation films and the shaping of violent children
When defectors from North Korea see kids’ animation movies in South Korea for the first time, they’re usually in for a shock. They’re nothing like...
China resumes forcible repatriation of defectors
China last month returned a large number of refugees to North Korea against their will, according to news reports based on activists, brokers and family...
5-jang 6-ki: What a North Korean woman needs for her dowry
I love Pride and Prejudice so much that I've watched it dozens of times. It gets praised a lot for the wonderful story and beautiful...
The achievements and limitations of Yoon Suk-yeol’s North Korean human rights
The current administration of Yoon Suk-yeol in South Korea has done more than any of its predecessors to stand up for the human rights of...
North Korea’s film industry has trouble staying afloat
The once thriving movie industry in North Korea seems to be stagnating. When a new war blockbuster, 72 Hours, was screened this month in theaters...
“Loyalty is a form of business marketing”
Recent defectors from North Korea are different from the earlier generation who have settled in South Korea in one notable aspect. That is, that they...
Is Kim Jong-un playing off Russia and China for gain?
A recent flurry of diplomacy activity suggests that Kim Jong-un may be reviving his grandfather's old strategy of playing off Russia and China against one...
North Korea tries again to rein in unsanctioned use of foreign currency
North Korea issued a fresh warning this month in what looks like its losing battle to crack down on private economic activity. Authorities on April...