The dangerous appeal of North Korean culture – NKNews Podcast Ep. 211

North Korean propagandists have churned out a steady stream of cultural products for domestic and foreign audiences over the years — from films, TV shows and radio dramas to comic books and flashy music videos. While always laced with state ideology, these works also evolve in response to changing circumstances and leaders’ whims, providing another window into what’s happening in the DPRK. This week, Professor Tatiana Gabroussenko joins the podcast to tease out the significance of the latest trends in North Korean culture. She argues that Kim Jong Un has steered cultural policy in a more conservative direction in recent years, while also touching on the country’s appropriation of South Korean culture and the potentially dangerous appeal of Pyongyang’s propaganda. Tatiana Gabroussenko is a professor of North Korean studies at Korea University and writes for NK News about DPRK culture. Her most recent columns have covered standup comedy, counterproductive propaganda films and children’s entertainment. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot (@JaccoZed) exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.