What If North Korea Opened Its Doors to Foreign Pop Culture?

This article paints an imagined scene of what life could look like if North Koreans had unrestricted access to global pop culture.

In a university classroom in Pyongyang, film students sit in rapt attention, watching the climax of The Shawshank Redemption. As Andy Dufresne stretches out his arms in the rain, embracing freedom, gasps of admiration ripple through the room. Kim Young-chul (21), a junior student, walks down the hallway with friends after class and says, “I wish North Korean films could portray such symbolic direction—not just heroes defeating enemies, but the complexity of human emotion and freedom.” His friend, Choi Myung-hee (20), nods and adds, “Yeah, it feels like we’ve entered a new era where we can finally tell diverse stories.”

In the building next door, English majors are intently watching a scene from the Hollywood film Inception. They’re trying to grasp the film’s intricate plot and rapid-fire dialogue, resembling students in a passionate film critique class. “Leonardo DiCaprio is amazing—I didn’t realize he had such depth in his acting,” one student says, and the professor agrees with a smile: “Now we can learn English through films. It’s much more engaging than textbooks.”

At a café in downtown Pyongyang, young people are gathered around a speaker blasting BTS’s Dynamite. “We’re finally connected to the world! No more propaganda songs!” exclaims Kim Myung-chul (22), a university student, with a bright smile. His friend, Choi Young-hee (21), adds joyfully, “Now it truly feels like the 21st century has arrived.”

Even Pyongyang’s theaters are changing. A local cinema recently screened the Disney animated film Frozen, which became a huge hit among children. After the screening, kids walked out hand-in-hand with their parents, singing Let It Go in unison. Kim Hae-rim, a seven-year-old girl, beamed, “Elsa is my role model! I wish I could control ice too!”

The music scene is also evolving rapidly. At the Pyongyang University of Music, a recent pop music workshop featured students practicing Adele’s Rolling in the Deep. One student said, “It felt unfamiliar at first, but now I’m hooked. It has a completely different charm from classical music.” Traditionally, North Korea’s music education has focused on revolutionary songs and folk tunes, but now students have the chance to explore various genres.

Even jazz clubs are springing up in Pyongyang. One such venue, known as Jazz Night, holds weekly performances and is popular among both young people and older generations. Park Chul-soo, a factory worker in his 40s, shared, “I love being able to enjoy diverse rhythms and melodies instead of the usual monotonous ones. I was skeptical at first, but now I’m totally into jazz’s spontaneity.” The club is always packed, and after the shows, it's common to see performers and audience members join in impromptu jam sessions.

Traditional performances are also embracing modern influences. A recent event at the Pyongyang Grand Theater titled Broadway Night captivated audiences with a style completely different from the usual revolutionary dramas. The show featured dazzling lights, rapid scene changes, and emotional music. Lee Young-soon, a 40-something office worker who saw her first musical there, said, “Performances no longer feel like propaganda—they now feel like real art.”

North Korea’s culinary scene is undergoing a transformation as well. Upscale restaurants in Pyongyang now serve dishes like Spanish paella, Japanese sushi, and Mexican tacos. Young North Korean chefs are increasingly experimenting with global ingredients and cooking methods. “Learning recipes from around the world has really improved my skills,” said one proud chef. “Our customers are loving the new flavors too.”

Books are also becoming more accessible. A major bookstore in Pyongyang now displays international bestsellers such as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, The Great Gatsby, and 1984. Store owner Lee Sung-hoon said, “We used to only sell revolutionary texts and party guidelines, but now readers are thrilled to have access to a wide range of genres.” In fact, book clubs and discussion groups are rapidly gaining popularity across the city.

This opening of North Korean pop culture is sparking change across all areas—entertainment, education, cuisine, and the arts. Young North Koreans are now dreaming bigger as they experience a broader world. No longer confined by the limits of the past, they are becoming a generation that communicates with the world—learning, exploring, and imagining new possibilities not just in theory, but through direct experience.