In North Korea, laughter is an unfamiliar concept in a society with deeply controlled laws and restrictions. For North Koreans, laughter has a secret side – it is often used to hide the reality of life in the so-called ‘Hermit Kingdom’. However, humour is a vital element of North Korean culture and its banned status makes it a powerful form of resistance against the ruling.
Background Information: The DPRK (North Korea) remains one of the most secretive countries in the world. It is a country where no-one is allowed to express themselves freely, and basic human rights are not recognised. As a result, North Koreans often rely on the use of humour to resist the domination of a repressive government.
Frequently, North Koreans crack jokes to cope with the hardships of everyday life. Political jokes are a popular form of humour, used to express subversive sentiments against the government. This type of joking suggests that individuals in the country recognise the limitations of the authoritarian system, as well as its power over citizens’ lives.
Despite its popularity, humour, particularly jokes about politics, are strictly prohibited in the DPRK. For making jokes about the highest authorities, people can be punished with harsh penalties by the government, including death. According to reports, the government has reportedly tortured and killed people for laughing at state-sponsored propaganda.
On the other hand, it is widely accepted that some form of humour is present in state-approved media. The state- run newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, publishes articles containing humorous puns and cryptic messages. It is said that this serves as a form of emotional relief for North Koreans.
Relevant Data: According to the research of political scientist, Andrei Lankov, jokes about the North Korean leader, Kim Il-sung, and the politics around him, are popular among North Koreans despite their subject matter. Stories and speeches of the state-approved leaders also contain comedic elements.
In 2017, a list of jokes was compiled by the Broadcasting Board of Governors which revealed the risk associated with laughing in the DPRK. The list included jokes such as: “If two women look alike, they must be sisters. If three look alike, they must be from the same family. If four look alike, they must be North Korean”.
Perspectives from Experts:Dr. B.R. Myers is a professor at Dongseo University, in South Korea. He believes that humour is used to test the boundaries of the system, in order to identify political “red-lines” that cannot be crossed by citizens. It is a way for people to challenge the existing order without actually doing anything aggressive.
In an article in The Atlantic, Myers wrote: “A joke that goes too far means the system is more vulnerable than anyone imagined”. He argues that North Koreans joke about their leader as a form of passive resistance, and despite the fact that it is risky, it is an important form of freedom of expression.
Political scientist, Rachel Riemersma, believes that North Korean humour serves as a form of ‘cultural survival’. In an essay she wrote, Riemersma argued that cracking jokes is a form of defiance against the Stalinist repressive system, an act of ‘defiance without revolt’.
Analysis
In North Korea, humour is often used as a tool to show people’s discontent but also to bring them closer together in a country that officially discourages community gathering and free expression. It serves as a source of emotional relief, allowing individuals a sense of connection and ‘release’. It is also an effective way to protest against the government in a society where citizens can’t openly express disagreement with the regime.
Humour in North Korea is often seen as an act of resistance, or a way for citizens to express their frustrations and test the boundaries of the system. Despite the risks associated with making jokes about the leader, people still find ways to express their discontent by cracking jokes.
Traditional Form of Laughter
North Korean culture and society also have a more ‘traditional’ form of laughter. For example, North Koreans are believed to have a particular kind of laughter, known as the gyeok. It is a prolonged laughter, used to show agreement or solidarity in conversations and in public.
Additionally, there are also various kinds of laughter that North Koreans use to greet each other, such as laughing-talking or loud laughter. This type of laughter has important social and cultural significance in North Korea. It serves as a way to show respect and admiration, as well as to show agreement. This type of laughter is said to be the only form of laughter that is accepted in the country.
Foreigners in North Korea
Foreigners in North Korea experience a different kind of atmosphere when it comes to laughter. Reports say that foreigners are often allowed to laugh in the presence of North Koreans, without being reprimanded. This can suggest that North Koreans are more willing to accept laughter from people who are not from the country, thereby demonstrating their trust toward these strangers.
However, it is still unclear whether North Koreans are allowed to laugh openly in public. It is likely that the authorities allow some kind of restricted form of laughter in the presence of foreigners, but still impose limits on the expression of emotion in their own country.
Humor as Protest
Many North Korean citizens have developed a habit of cracking jokes as a way to cope with the harsh reality of life in the so-called ‘Hermit Kingdom’. Political jokes are a common form of humour, used to express sarcastic sentiments towards the government. This type of humour serves as a form of protest, as it allows individuals to express criticism of the government without any direct confrontation.
Laughter is also used to test the boundaries of the system, to identify what is and is not allowed. It is an act of defiance that allows individuals to express their dissatisfaction in an indirect way. Despite the risks associated with making jokes about the leader, North Korean citizens continue to find ways to express their opinion through humour.
Connection and Solidarity
Aside from its use as a form of protest and defiance, laughter also serves as a way for North Koreans to connect. Laughter can be used to show agreement and solidarity between friends and family, reinforcing the sense of community in the ‘Hermit Kingdom’. It is also a way for people to form a bond and to deal with the harsh realities of life in North Korea.
Despite its restricted status, humour is still an important element of North Korean culture. It serves as a source of emotional relief, allowing individuals a sense of connection and ‘release’. It is also an effective way to protest against the government in a society where citizens can’t openly express disagreement with the regime.
Alternative Forms of Laughter
Aside from the jokes and political humour mentioned earlier, North Koreans have also developed alternative forms of laughter. There is a unique kind of laughter called the gyeok, used to show agreement and solidarity in conversations and in public. Additionally, there are also various kinds of laughter that North Koreans use to greet each other, such as laughing-talking or loud laughter.
This type of laughter has important social and cultural significance in North Korea. It serves as a way to show respect, admiration and agreement. This type of laughter is said to be the only form of laughter that is accepted in the country.
Risk and Punishment
Despite its prevalence, humour, particularly jokes about politics, remain strictly prohibited in North Korea. Authorities often issue harsh punishments for individuals who laugh at the state-sponsored propaganda. This can include death or torture.
For many North Koreans, therefore, laughter remains a secret form of resistance against the oppressive regime. It is a way for citizens to express dissatisfaction without any confrontation. Laughing in the presence of North Korean authorities is thus a risk that many citizens frequently take, although it does come with a potential punishment.
Foreigners in North Korea
Foreigners are often allowed to laugh in the presence of North Koreans, without being reprimanded. This could suggest that North Koreans are more willing to accept laughter from people who are not from the country, thereby demonstrating their trust toward these strangers.
However, it is still unclear whether North Koreans are allowed to laugh openly in public or not. It is likely that the authorities only allow restricted forms of laughter in the presence of foreigners, but still impose limits on the expression of emotion in their own country.
