South Korea bans viral North Korea propaganda video praising Kim Jong Un

SEOUL – South Korea’s media regulator said on May 20 it was banning access to a North Korean propaganda music video that it said idolised and glorified leader Kim Jong Un as a “friendly father” and “great leader”.

South Korea’s National Security Act blocks access to North Korea’s government websites and media to restrict exposure to the efforts by Mr Kim’s autocratic regime to “praise, incite or propagate” its activities.

The two Koreas are still technically at war since an armistice ended the 1950 to 1953 Korean War, not a peace treaty.

The decision to ban the video was made after the intelligence authorities asked for a review on whether it breached the law, said Seoul's Korea Communications Standards Commission.

“The video is typical content linked to psychological warfare against South Korea, as it was posted on a channel to connect with the outside world and mainly focused on unilaterally idolising and glorifying Kim,” it said in a statement.

The video has become an unlikely social media hit around the world, going viral on short-form video app TikTok and other platforms.

Pyongyang’s state media often displays exaggerated demonstrations of loyalty by citizens toward the country’s leaders to help them consolidate power and craft a personality cult around them.

The clip, titled Friendly Father, was released in April by North Korea’s state television.

It shows North Koreans ranging from soldiers to schoolchildren exuberantly belting out such lines as: “Let’s sing, Kim Jong Un the great leader” and “Let’s brag about Kim Jong Un, a friendly father”.

South Korea’s regulator blocked access to some North Korean propaganda YouTube channels in 2023 at the request of the spy agency. REUTERS