{"id":4706,"date":"2020-08-31T18:10:57","date_gmt":"2020-08-31T09:10:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.01.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/?p=4706"},"modified":"2022-01-24T15:26:53","modified_gmt":"2022-01-24T06:26:53","slug":"foreign-drama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/2020\/08\/recommendations\/foreign-drama\/","title":{"rendered":"\uff1cInside N. Korea\uff1e 22-Year-Old Man Jumps to his Death Following Arrest For Watching Foreign Film, Leading Bereaved Family to Rise in Protest"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(Photo) A police officer stands at a checkpoint. Photographed in South Pyongan Province in January 2011 by Kim Dong-cheol (ASIAPRESS)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u25c6 Conducting house-to-house investigations without a warrant<\/h2>\n

In North Korea, copies of dramas and movies from abroad, including South Korea, are regarded as \u201cimpure goods\u201d<\/strong> and are strictly banned from being sold or viewed. Last year, a crackdown on foreign media was tightened and random searches of neighborhoods were conducted without warrants, leading to many arrests around the country. Police officials would blatantly demand bribes from those caught in violation of the law and residents became deeply dissatisfied with the situation.<\/p>\n

In early August, a 22 year-old man was arrested and taken into custody for watching a Chinese movie at his home in Hyesan City, near the Chinese border. During the investigation, however, the man committed suicide by throwing himself off the top of the investigative agency\u2019s building. According to a reporting partner, the incident completely shocked local residents.<\/p>\n

The organization that leads the crackdown on the spread of foreign media and other acts that \u201cdisrupt the socialist order\u201d is referred to as the \u201c109 Sangmu\u201d<\/strong> and is jointly filled with personnel from the Workers\u2019 Party, the military, the police, the prosecution, and the secret police.<\/p>\n

The building occupied by the \u201c109 Sangmu\u201d is located in Shinheung-dong, in the center of Hyesan City. This was where the 22-year-old man was being held after authorities had burst into his house and arrested him on suspicion of watching a Chinese film. During his detention, the young man was beaten and poorly fed, which apparently led him to jump from the building and kill himself.<\/p>\n

Shortly after, the young man\u2019s family gathered in front of the building, weeping and shouting, \u201cSave our son.\u201d<\/strong> The scene apparently drew much attention from the local community.
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\nNextPage:\u3000\u25c6 Regime extremely wary of information from the outside world\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u25c6 Regime extremely wary of information from the outside world<\/h2>\n

\u201cEradicate impurities.\u201d<\/strong> That was the direct order of Kim Jong-un. In an internal document obtained by ASIAPRESS, this order was often referred to in the outline of the policy for cracking down on foreign media.<\/p>\n

The 109 Sangmu, which is charged with leading this crackdown, often has its officers search entire houses to see if there are any \u201cimpure goods\u201d hidden away. According to the reporting partner, \u201cTwo Chinese films were supposedly found on a USB in the deceased man\u2019s house.\u201d<\/p>\n

The reporting partner went on to explain that local residents are strongly opposed to the activities of the 109 Sangmu, as its officers recklessly enter people\u2019s homes and blatantly demand bribes.<\/p>\n

\u201cA friend of mine was caught by the 109 Sangmu watching a Chinese film and was told \u2018Choose whether you want to go to prison or pay 2,000 RMB.\u2019\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u203b 2,000 RMB is roughly equivalent to 350,000 Korean won<\/p>\n

The reporting partner further explained that the 109 Sangmu\u2019s demands for bribes have become alarmingly blatant since late January, when the Chinese border was sealed to prevent the inflow of the coronavirus.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause the border blockade has stopped trade, caused the economy to stagnate, and drastically reduced other sources of bribery, so the officers are now making money under the pretext of eradicating illegal activity. The crackdown is several times worse than before the coronavirus.\u201d<\/strong> (Kang Ji-won)<\/p>\n

\u203b ASIAPRESS contacts its reporting partners in North Korea through smuggled Chinese mobile phones.<\/p>\n

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