Kim Jong Un was meant to be their only idol – then North Koreans found K-pop

North Korean defectors have shared accounts of how Korean pop music became a significant source of inspiration and escape within one of the world’s most isolated and tightly controlled societies. Despite the regime’s efforts to restrict access to all foreign media, K-pop groups including BTS, Blackpink, Girls’ Generation, and others managed to circulate through the country via MP3 players and SD cards, offering listeners a glimpse of a world beyond state propaganda.

For many who grew up under the regime, exposure to South Korean music came with significant personal risk. Government authorities actively monitored and punished consumption of foreign content, with offenders facing detention, forced labor camps, or worse. Public criticism sessions were conducted at schools to warn students about the consequences of watching South Korean videos. Despite these dangers, defectors report that roughly 98 percent of those who escaped had engaged with South Korean dramas or films while living in the North, and approximately 80 percent said this exposure increased their curiosity about life in the South.

The appeal of K-pop extended beyond entertainment. Many listeners found meaning in lyrics about personal struggle, self-acceptance, and emotional expression—concepts largely absent from North Korean state-approved music, which typically focused on political messaging and loyalty to the regime. The contrast between the freedom of expression shown by Korean artists and the rigid conformity demanded at home became increasingly difficult to ignore for many North Koreans. Some defectors described how learning dance moves from music videos became a youth trend, while others used songs as emotional anchors during periods of isolation and hardship.

For defectors who successfully escaped to South Korea, K-pop fandom often played an important role in their integration and healing. Several individuals described how supporting groups like BTS provided community, helped them process trauma, and ultimately allowed them to embrace their identities as North Korean defectors without shame. The music offered themes of self-love and acceptance that resonated deeply with people rebuilding their lives in a new country. As K-pop’s global influence continues to grow, newer generations of defectors arrive in a world where Korean popular culture is mainstream rather than forbidden, presenting both different opportunities and challenges for their adjustment.