What is censorship?
"Censorship" is the deliberate restriction of public press. The Korean Government controls every aspect of media: internet, newspapers, television, and radio. In North Korea, all media outlets are controlled by the North Korean Government, which prevents Korean citizens from gaining typical knowledge and information on world events. Korean media typically spreads a large amount of propaganda, which is very unfortunate for the country.
Who is affected?
All media outlets in North Korea are controlled by the North Korean government. Most news networks spread propaganda that heavily glorifies their leaders and even vilifies the leaders of other Countries. News networks are controlled by one central network, which is Korean Central News Agency.The censorship of media effects virtually all Korean citizens, no matter their age. The people of Korea are unable to gain access to unbiased media basically from the time of their birth.
Where is it occurring?
North Korea is a country in East Asia and it is located in the Northern part of the Korean Peninsula. The capital of North Korea is Pyongyang. North Korea has long been a country of strict and regimented ways of daily life. Beginning in 2002, the North Korean Government decided that government censorship of the internet and other media throughout the country was necessary. This however did not represent the voice of the countries peoples. The country is officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, but in reality is a totalitarian state.
When did it occur?
North Korean government has maintained heavy control over the country’s networks, allowing only a few government sponsored pages to be viewed. North Korea is ranked as one of the most censored nations in the world. From 2002 to 2006, the country was rated the worst in the world on access to free media. The country is still very heavily similar to how it was at that time, which is why it is such an important problem for people today.
Why is this happening?
The media dedicates a large portion of its resources toward political propaganda and promoting their leaders. Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il are constantly made to look like heroes, and are made to look like brave and responsible leaders when in reality, a large amount of Korean citizens live in fear. The media routinely makes false claims and uses unrealistic information in order to attack topics such as the Western World, Christianity, the United States, Israel, Japan, and South Korea.
How did it Start?
Kim Jong-Il was the leader of North Korea at the time, and he wanted citizens to believe that their country was doing better than it actually was, so they began censoring media, particularly on the subject of Western culture, so that the people of North Korea would not know what life was like outside of Korea. Over time the power of the government expanded and they were able to gain full control over Korean news and media.
Video on North Korean Censorship
Above is a video that briefly helps to explain the conflict with North Korean censorship.
"10 Most Censored Countries." - Reports. CPJ, 12 May 2012. Web. 02 Jan. 2013.
"Global Media News." 'Global Media News' Global Media News, 28 Feb. 2011. Web. 02 Jan. 2013.
Taylor, Alan. "A Look Inside North Korea." The Atlantic. The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2013. Web. 02 Jan. 2013.
I always knew that censorship was used in other counties, but I never really understood how the people of those countries could believe that what they’re told is always true. I knew propaganda was a strong power when used correctly, but I’m surprised that it is still used in other counties today, and usually gives the intended effect. -Nick Chamberlain
ReplyDeleteCensorship, especially in places like North Korea, is unfathomable at times to us. These people and many other countries are treated like children and so they believe everything they hear. They're stuck in a protective bubble even though you can't call it protective at all. It's a serious issue that we talk about and we call important to us, even though we're not entirely sure what to do. ~Yosef Zaverukha
ReplyDeleteTo put it simply these government's are brainwashing the citizens and it needs to be recognized and addressed. They will never know true freedom until oppressive dictators are stripped of their power. This article does a great job of depicting the evils of censorship that goes on quietly today. - George Pollard
ReplyDelete