North Korean Defectors Describe K-pop as a Window to Freedom

North Korean defectors reveal how K-pop, particularly BTS, has become a form of resistance and hope inside the isolated regime. Lee Yeon-su, who defected in the 2000s, now attends BTS concerts in South Korea, cherishing the freedom to choose her own idols. Kang Gyu-ri, who fled in 2023, recalls listening to BTS's 'Dynamite' and Teen Top's 'No More Perfume on You' via smuggled SD cards and TV signals. Hannah Oh, a 25-year-old defector, carried two SD cards—one with South Korean music, another empty to hand over if caught. Despite severe punishments, including public executions reported in 2022, a 2023 survey found 98% of defectors had watched South Korean content. For many, K-pop provided a 'breathing hole' and hope to endure. Yeon-su credits BTS's 'Answer: Love Myself' with helping her accept her past. Hana Kang, who arrived 20 years ago, found solace in BTS's 'Spring Day,' reflecting on separation from family. The article, published July 17, 2026, by the BBC, highlights how exposure to South Korean culture challenges the regime's monopoly on idolatry.