According to a report by the South China Morning Post, North Korea has reportedly escalated its efforts to suppress what it deems as "puppet language" - the Korean spoken in South Korea. Individuals in North Korea who are caught using slang or vocabulary derived from the South could face severe punishments, ranging from forced labor in prison camps to even death. This crackdown is said to be enforced under the Pyongyang Cultural Language Protection Act.
According to a testimony provided to Radio Free Asia by a resident in the northwestern province of North Pyongan, people who have become accustomed to the way South Koreans speak are now feeling compelled to adapt to the dialect used in Pyongyang. This change in behavior stems from their concerns that inadvertently or unknowingly using South Korean words might result in punishment. These individuals are apprehensive about the potential consequences they could face if they inadvertently slip up and use vocabulary associated with the South Korean dialect.
As per the report, North Korean women are prohibited from using terms like "jagiya" (darling) or "oppa" (older brother/boyfriend) when addressing their husbands or boyfriends. Instead, they are required to use the term "dongji" (comrade). Furthermore, it is advised for North Koreans to refrain from incorporating South Korean loan words borrowed from English into their speech. Words such as "paesyeon" (fashion), "heeoseutail" (hairstyle), and "waipeu" (wife) are to be avoided. The aim of these measures is to maintain linguistic purity and prevent the influence of South Korean culture and language from permeating into North Korean society.
The report also highlighted that even openly expressing "I love you" is considered evidence of exposure to South Korean movies and culture, which the North Korean authorities aim to eradicate. The crackdown on language is seen as part of a broader effort to eliminate what is perceived as the influence of capitalism and the negative impact it may have on North Korean society.
Previous instances have been reported where individuals have faced punishment for speaking in a manner resembling South Koreans. Additionally, there have been shocking cases where individuals were executed for attempting to sell illicit videos and music that were considered contraband. These extreme measures underscore the severity with which the North Korean authorities are addressing any perceived infiltration of South Korean culture, including its language and media, in order to maintain strict control and ideological conformity within the country.
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