For North Korean defector Lee Yeon-su, screaming among thousands of fans at a BTS concert in South Korea is more than just entertainment—it is a celebration of a freedom she never could have imagined growing up. Born in a highly controlled society where the only permitted "idol" is leader Kim Jong Un, Lee was raised to view South Korea as the enemy. Yet today, she is one of many defectors who found hope and a sense of personal choice through the forbidden rhythms of K-pop.
In North Korea, the government controls every aspect of cultural life. State broadcasts are played constantly inside homes, playing music focused strictly on revolution and political loyalty. Listening to foreign music, especially from South Korea, is a serious crime that can result in imprisonment or worse. Despite these severe risks, South Korean music has steadily filtered across the border on smuggled SD cards and MP3 players, or via TV signals received in coastal areas.
For young North Koreans, discovering K-pop is often a shocking experience. Defector Kang Gyu-ri, who escaped in 2023, recalls watching South Korean TV shows in secret. She was amazed by K-pop artists with colorful hair, makeup, and energetic dance routines. "Everything was shocking," she said, noting how teenagers in her town would secretly copy K-pop choreography. Even BTS’s global English hit "Dynamite" became popular, despite listeners not understanding the lyrics.
Because the music is distributed secretly, file names on SD cards are often corrupted, meaning many North Koreans listen to songs without knowing who sings them. Nevertheless, the hopeful lyrics and upbeat melodies offer a powerful escape. BTS’s Korean name, Bangtan Sonyeondan, has even entered North Korean slang, with people joking about "Bangtan backpacks" and "Bangtan vents."
For defectors like Lee Yeon-su, K-pop was a gateway to a completely different world. Now living in South Korea, she attends concerts by her own choice, finding joy in supporting artists she loves. "Every time I come to a BTS concert, I realize how happy I am that I can like and support someone of my own free will," she says. "That would have been unimaginable in North Korea."