Will North Korean Residents Watch 'Crash Landing on You' and 'Top Gun' Themselves?

US Human Rights Foundation Sends 2,000 USBs Containing Drama and Human Rights Reports
Challenges Due to North Korea Leaflet Ban Law, Border Closure, and China's Zero COVID Policy

An image of one million leaflets sent to North Korea through 20 large balloons by the North Korean defector organization Free North Korea Movement Alliance in the Gimpo area of Gyeonggi Province on April 25-26. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] The U.S. international human rights organization 'Human Rights Foundation' reportedly sent 2,000 portable storage devices (USBs) containing films and other content to North Korea this year, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA) on the 30th.

The Human Rights Foundation sent flash drives and SD cards through the North Korea information inflow program called 'Flash Drives for Freedom,' the broadcast reported. Lee Seong-min, who is in charge of the program, stated, "We promoted activities together with local organizations led by North Korean defectors," and analyzed, "Although it is difficult to know precisely, if one storage device is shared by 10 North Korean residents, it is estimated that 20,000 North Koreans may have accessed outside information."

Lee mentioned that the storage devices contained overseas dramas, movies, documentaries, and human rights reports, citing popular Korean dramas such as 'Crash Landing on You' and 'Descendants of the Sun,' as well as Hollywood movies like 'Top Gun' and 'Titanic' as examples.

The foundation also reported that despite difficulties in human rights activities due to the ban on sending leaflets to North Korea, North Korea's border closures, and China's 'Zero COVID' quarantine regulations, the program continues by placing daily necessities and USBs in plastic bottles and floating them down rivers. Since 2016, the foundation has sent a total of 130,000 portable storage devices to North Korea.

Lee said that through the North Korea information inflow activities, "Many North Korean residents will be able to realize the reality of deprivation and oppression that has continued for a long time." He is originally from Hyesan, Yanggang Province, and defected from North Korea in 2009.