K-Pop: Cultural Diplomacy or Weaponized Culture?

Not Quite Home

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Last week, a long awaited and anxiety-driven event happened in the capital of North Korea. A South Korean envoy of singers and performers made their way to Pyeongchang to perform for high status citizens, diplomats, esteemed guests, and the boy-king himself. This event follows a string of diplomatic moves between Northern leader Kim Jong Un and Southern President Moon Jae In. The event was seen as a ‘gift’ for the North Korean people.

• The faces of Korea's reunification effort. Source

There’s a lot to dig into here concerning why and how this event took place. An incredible article by @eternallight goes through each song performed and speculates on why they were chosen. Language is super important in an event like this and picking precise musical messages can be as effective as planting a spy operative. The choice of performers in particularly interesting as well. The one that received the most attention is the fairly new girl group Red Velvet -

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For anyone who is not very familiar with pop culture and general South Korean society, Red Velvet seems to be the epitome of everything completely opposite from our Northern neighbors. These girls are engineered entertainment products of the K-Pop industry, plastic reconstructed to the bone and choreographed down to every sexualized squeal. Girl groups partially exist to satisfy the pornography-deprived population of the country and goes against every detail of severity that leaks out of the North Korean regime. The initial prospect of sending them onto Pyeongchang’s stage shocked and disturbed many Koreans, but maybe that was just the purpose.

Weaponized Music

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Most peculiar about this all is the welcoming by the northern dictator of a musical concert over any other form of entertainment. North Korea has been most defensive about K-Pop in particular from spreading in the country due to its optimistic feel and general opposition to the North Korean ethos.

Now and during years past, South Korea has actually used music (more specifically pop-music) as a military weapon. Enormous speakers line the Demilitarized Zone between the countries and during times of political tension, the South will blast every catchy recent song into Northern territories. The goal from the South (and the fear from the North) is to motivate Northerners to defect from their current oppression.

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I can only imagine what goes through a North Korean’s head when they hear Big Bang sing about sexual promiscuity or Girl’s Generation about modern girly culture.

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Anyway, the recording of the concert itself should be released in the coming weeks though many correctly speculate that none of it will reach North Korean public eyes and ears. Let me know what you think and I’ll be sure to share the link of it when it becomes available.

• BTW, the shot of Eternal Leader Kim standing next to singer Baek Ji Young, someone with a very publicized promiscuous past, is incredible. Source

Steem on!