North Korean MZ Generation Dates via Smartphone, Evading Crackdowns

The way North Korea's young generation (MZ generation) nurtures love in their own way, even under the surveillance and control of authorities, has come to light. Author Kim Ju-sung reported that while North Korean authorities are strengthening control by prohibiting the viewing of South Korean dramas and the use of South Korean expressions, young people are continuing their relationships while evading this.

The fact that smartphone use is becoming widespread among North Korean residents and is being utilized as a means of communication between lovers is drawing attention. North Korean smartphones are completely blocked from external internet (WWW), and only a few elites use them restrictively for messaging and call functions. General youth are developing their relationships via smartphones without internet.

Influenced by South Korean dramas, South Korean pet names like 'Oppa' and 'Jagiya' have become a trend among North Korean youth. In response, North Korean authorities have targeted this as 'eradication of puppet culture' and launched crackdowns. Using such pet names during dates or in smartphone messages can result in punishment. North Korean authorities are strictly prohibiting the use of South Korean speech patterns or pet names to eradicate South Korean dramas and control ideology.

While sharing the love stories of North Korea's MZ generation, Kim Ju-sung revealed that when inspectors accused a young man, saying, "Isn't this clearly a South Korean phrase?", the apprehended youth, to the inspectors' surprise, countered, "Comrade supervisor, how do you know so well whether that's a South Korean word or a North Korean word? How can you be so sure it's a South Korean word unless you secretly watch South Korean dramas all the time?" This indicates that North Korea's young people are engaging in a battle of wits and slang with crackdowns to protect their love even in the face of the law.

The love stories of North Korean youth, which not even the regime's surveillance and crackdowns can stop, offer a glimpse into the daily lives of people nurturing love even behind the curtain of a controlled state.