[imText1]In North Korea, South Korean dramas are distributed through VCDs (So-called ‘Flat eggs’, illegally copied DVDs). It was reported that Kim Jong Il allowed North Koreans to watch some VCD films produced only in North Korea, China or the Soviet Union. In the past, possessing VCDs itself was illegal.
According to Mr. Lee, “Until recently, Kim Jong Il has allowed North Koreans to see films only on flat eggs (VCDs) produced by Hana Electronic, a company which has distributed VCDs to North Korea”. He added “VCDs produced by Hana Electronics are almost all North Korean movies, Chinese war movies depicting fighting between Japanese soldiers and People’s Party soldiers, and Soviet Union movies”.
However, despite the only partial allowance of Kim Jong Il, it was discovered that North Koreans are enthusiastic about the South Korean dramas “Love Song in Winter” and “Autumn Story” and the Western movies “Rambo” and “Bruce Lee”.
Mr. Lee said that “Recently, South Korean dramas are being distributed widely, and because North Koreans are exposed to religious activities and adult materials through the flat eggs (VCDs), the North Korean government has dispatched extensive censor groups to crack down on them”.
In North Korea, all VCD use was prohibited until recently. However, seeing that North Koreans took pleasure in watching VCDs in stealth, and were distributed widely, the North Korean government changed its’ policy to allow for partial use. However, it discovered that many North Koreans were already interested in South Korean dramas, and since the dramas had already been distributed, the government crack-down experienced only limited success.
Mr. Lee said that, “Recently, the punishment for VCD violations has loosened, and violators are only fined or given an oral warning (expect in cases where religious material is present)”, adding, “The government does not take violators to political prison camps, but to Nodon Danryeondae (Labor facilities), or Gyohwaso (long-term labor camps)”. Subsequently, he said that, “Because all officials of the National Security Agency and officials of the People’s Safety Agency see the dramas, the government can not unconditionally prevent people from watching like they could in the past”.
He said that, “Recently, the number of religious people has increased, and more people have been caught watching religious films. In those cases, the prospects for survival are low”.
Meanwhile, shortwave radios are illegally sold at around 2,000 won ($0.67) at Jangmadang. Until 3 or 4 years ago, the government had carried out a reporting system about the illegal sales, but after the news that South Korea and the U.S. had sent radios, sales at Jangmadang were officially prohibited.
Now it has been discovered that the small radios sold in secret were carried in through smuggling vessels mostly in Jagangdo province, North Korea.
