North Korea is cracking down on "oppa"!
A phone smuggled out of North Korea has exposed extreme censorship practices, including bans on everyday South Korean slang.
In a recent BBC investigation, confiscated phones were found loaded with restrictions to block outside cultural influences. Notably, these devices can’t connect to the internet, and attempts to use South Korean phrases are flagged or altered.
One shocking example? When users type “oppa,” the term—commonly used by women in South Korea to refer to boyfriends or favorite male idols—automatically changes to “comrade” with a warning that says, “This word can only be used to describe your siblings.”
Moreover, typing “South Korea” is switched to “puppet state,” reflecting the regime’s official stance.
Beyond these linguistic changes, the devices also monitor user activity. They take screenshots every few minutes, saving them in a hidden folder accessible only to authorities. This allows North Korea to track users without their knowledge.
BBC reports that this is part of a broader strategy to block foreign content, especially popular South Korean K-Dramas and variety shows. These shows are often smuggled into North Korea via USB drives, which the regime sees as a significant threat.
Watch the full BBC clip below!
