Shocking Things About Living in North Korea

By now, we all know that living in North Korea is no walk in the park. There are weird rules and systems in the country which believes the deceased founder Kim Il-sung still rules the regime in spirit form. Here are some of them.

Their calendar is based on its founder’s date of birth

It may be the 21st century for the rest of the world but for people in North Korea, it’s still the 106th Juche year. The North Korean Juche calendar begins from April 15, 1912, the date of birth of its founder Kim Il-Sung.

The have only 3 TV channels

With everything under scrutiny, it’s quite obvious that the North Korean regime keeps its media on a tight leash. There are only 3 television channels to choose from, with all programs controlled by the government.

Power cut every night

You know how occasional power cuts are so annoying. Now imagine the state of North Koreans whose entire country goes dark at night. It’s apparently due to the energy crisis in the state that it can’t supply sufficient electricity to homes. This was revealed after a photo of North Korea taken from space went viral.

Elections with only one candidate to choose from

With the country’s totalitarian regime and the same family ruling since 1948, it’s rather funny that the elections are held every year. The voters have only one option to choose from. Whether it’s the election for a mayor, provincial governors, or local assemblies, there is only one candidate on the ballot in each district. Imagine!

Parents have to provide desks & chairs for their kids

Parents who send their kids to school are required to provide their own desks and chairs. Some students are also forced to do laborious tasks for the government, such as collecting discarded material.

The 3-generation punishment rule

The three-generation punishment rule is a horrifying reality of the country which can’t stand any criticism from its citizens. If one person commits a crime, his entire bloodline, including the grandparents, parents and children, are sent to prison.

You might be held captive for being creative

It’s one of the popular stories that dictator Kim Jong-il kidnapped a film director, Shin Sang-ok and his wife, actor Choi Eun-hee, in 1978 to inject creativity in North Korean films. Later in 1986, after being held against their will for almost a decade, the couple gradually earned the dictator’s trust and escaped during a trip to Austria where they were promoting North Korean films.