North Korean teenagers reportedly executed for watching Squid Game

Escapees interviewed said that under a 2020 law banning South Korean media, people have faced public executions and long forced‑labour sentences, and a UN report and rights groups warned of increased surveillance and control.

Escapees and other interviewees told researchers that consuming South Korean television and music can lead to severe punishments in North Korea. A study of 25 in‑depth interviews included 11 people who fled between 2009 and 2020; most were aged 15–25 when they left. The Anti‑Reactionary Thought and Culture Act introduced in 2020 criminalises South Korean media and prescribes five to 15 years of forced labour for viewing or possession, with the death penalty for distributing large amounts or organising group viewings. A UN report and rights groups said new laws and practices have increased surveillance and control over citizens. Key reported findings: - The report is based on 25 in‑depth interviews, including 11 escapees who fled between 2009 and 2020, most aged 15–25 at the time. - Interviewees reported punishments ranging from forced labour sentences to public executions for watching or sharing South Korean dramas or K‑pop, as described by the sources. - The 2020 law prescribes five to 15 years of forced labour for consumption or possession and allows the death penalty for distributing large amounts or organising group viewings. - Witnesses said enforcement is unequal: families with money or connections can sometimes avoid punishment by paying officials, while poorer people face harsher outcomes. Summary: Reported enforcement of the Anti‑Reactionary Thought and Culture Act appears to have increased penalties and surveillance for consuming South Korean media, and witnesses described disparities in enforcement based on wealth and connections. Undetermined at this time.