1. Overview

"Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Act of North Korea" is Law of North Korea. This law was enacted by the North Korean authorities in December 2020 to root out all external cultures, religions, capitalist lifestyles, and other behaviors that do not conform to the norms of the North Korean authorities, such as the South Korean pop culture, and elements that actually interfere with Kim Jong-un's maintenance of power. Even high-rank of the Communist Party can be punished under this law. This law confirms that North Koreans who smuggle in, distribute, or encourage group viewing of movies and dramas from enemy countries can face the death penalty. So, North Koreans can face the death penalty for watching South Korea movies or dramas.

In North Korea, based on this law, the worst cultural oppression in history is being carried out. This means that North Korea has been driven to the brink of system collapse due to the inflow of external culture, even though the general public is prohibited from using the Internet to thoroughly prevent the inflow of external cultur

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2. Full text of the "Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Act North Korea"

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CHAPTER I. BASICS OF THE REACTIONARY IDEOLOGY AND CULTURE REJECTION ACT

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Article 1. Purpose of the Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Act

‍The Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Act of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea contributes to the strengthening of our sense of ideology, revolution, and social class by launching a powerful battle to obstruct the inflow and distribution of reactionary ideology and culture and anti-socialist ideology and culture.
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Article 2. Definition

Reactionary ideology and culture refers to a rotten ideology and culture of hostile forces including South Korean publications that paralyzes the people’s revolutionary sense of ideology and social class, and deteriorates and depraves our society, as well as all types of impure and absurd ideology and culture that are not in our own style.
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Article 3. Basic Principle of Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection

Rejecting reactionary ideology and culture is an indispensable requirement to preserve the socialist ideology and firmly protect the socialist system from enemies’ schemes to ideologically and culturally penetrate into the DPRK with an aim of collapsing our system. The State firmly shall subdue and contain anti-socialist and non-socialist activities such as bringing in, viewing or reading, and distributing reactionary propaganda materials by strictly establishing revolutionary systems and orders at every level in every sector.

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Article 4. Principle of Establishing Revolutionary Working Style and Revolutionary Lifestyle

Establishing a revolutionary working style and revolutionary lifestyle is the fundamental way to obstruct the penetration of reactionary ideology and culture into the North Korea

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Article 5. Principle of Reinforcing Ideological and Cultural Education

Reinforcing ideological and cultural education for the people is the fundamental method to batter reactionary ideology and culture and anti-socialist ideology and culture. Under circumstances where enemies’ ideological and cultural infiltration schemes are becoming increasingly cunning and heinous, the State shall further strengthen ideological and cultural education for the people so that they are not imbued with reactionary ideology and culture.

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Article 6. Principle of Mass Battle

Launching a high-intensity all-out battle against reactionary ideology and culture is a critical policy requirement for the State. The State shall strongly protect our ideology, our spirit, and our culture by launching a powerful mass battle to wipe out all activities to bring in, view, and distribute reactionary ideology and culture.
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Article 7. Principle of Punishment on Offenders of Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Order

The State shall enforce strict legal sanctions up to and including death penalty against any citizen bringing in, viewing, and distributing reactionary ideology and culture, depending on the severity, regardless of the reason and the offender’s social class.

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CHAPTER II. OBSTRUCTION OF INFLOW OF REACTIONARY IDEOLOGY AND CULTURE

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Article 8. Basic Requirement for Obstruction of Inflow of Reactionary Ideology and Culture

Obstructing the inflow of reactionary ideology and culture is the first step in our battle to batter reactionary ideology and culture. Any institution, enterprise, organization, and citizen shall completely block all potential routes and sources of reactionary ideology and culture, and strictly monitor even the smallest elements so as to preclude reactionary ideology and culture from penetrating our society
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Article 9. Obstruction of Inflow through Borders

Border inspection authorities including the customs office and border security organizations shall fundamentally block the penetration of reactionary ideology and culture by thoroughly inspecting all personnel and goods brought into the DPRK, and completely blocking all spaces through which reactionary ideology and culture may come into the DPRK from foreign countries or areas affected by enemies.

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Article 10. Obstruction of Inflow through Propaganda Materials

Any relevant organization shall strictly supervise and control propaganda materials containing decadent, absurd and impure contents to preclude them from being brought in the North Korea.
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Article 11. Obstruction of Inflow through Organizations Dealing with External Relations

Any organization dealing with external relations and relevant entities shall assure that foreigners whom they invite, greet or meet do not bring in or distribute impure propaganda materials.

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Article 12. Obstruction of Inflow through Electric Waves and the Internet

Central Information Technology Guidance Organizations and relevant entities shall obstruct the inflow of reactionary ideology and culture through electric waves and the Internet by strengthening their supervision and control over fixing frequency settings of televisions and radios, and using electronic and radiocommunication equipments with transmission capability over the Internet.

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Article 13. Obstruction of Inflow through Hostile Materials

Any relevant law enforcement agency, institution, enterprise, and organization shall batter enemies’ ideological and cultural infiltration into the DRPK by establishing systematic monitoring and public reporting systems against hostile materials, and correcting the way of handling and settlement of them.

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Article 14. Duties of Citizens

Any citizen shall not bring in or receive and possess impure propaganda materials and electronic equipments from their overseas business trips, personal travels, or foreigners and overseas Koreans whom they meet abroad.
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CHAPTER III. PROHIBITION OF CONSUMPTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF REACTIONARY IDEOLOGY AND CULTURE

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Article 15. Basic Requirement for Prohibition of Consumption and Distribution of Reactionary Ideology and Culture

The Prohibition of the act of viewing and distributing reactionary ideology and culture is a important requirement to preserve our position of ideology and culture. Any institution, enterprise, organization, and citizen shall not view, distribute, or reproduce reactionary ideology and culture.
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Article 16. Prohibition of Viewing and Distribution through Computers and Memory Devices

Any institution, enterprise, organization, and citizen shall not view or distribute impure propaganda materials to other people by using computers or memory devices.
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Article 17. Prohibition of Viewing and Distribution through Televisions and Radios

Any institution, enterprise, organization, and citizen shall not view or distribute impure propaganda materials to other people by not fixing frequencies of televisions and radios or by breaking sealed frequency settings.
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Article 18. Prohibition of Distribution through Copy Machine and Printer

Any institution, enterprise, organization, and citizen shall strictly follow the rule of using copy machine and printer, and shall not print or copy impure propaganda materials.Article 19. Prohibition of Viewing and Distribution through Hand PhonesAny institution, enterprise, organization, and citizen shall not use hand phones of foreign countries, and shall not view or distribute impure propaganda materials with hand phones. Article 20. Prohibition of Viewing and Distribution of Hostile Materials and Obtained MaterialsAny institution, enterprise, organization, and citizen shall not possess, view, use, hostile materials or other materials containing impure contents without reporting them to relevant authorities

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Article 19. Prohibition of Viewing and Distribution through Hand Phones

Any institution, enterprise, organization, and citizen shall not use hand phones of foreign countries, and shall not view or distribute impure propaganda materials with hand phones.

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Article 20. Prohibition of Viewing and Distribution of Hostile Materials and Obtained Materials

Any institution, enterprise, organization, and citizen shall not possess, view, use, hostile materials or other materials containing impure contents without reporting them to relevant authorities

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Article 21. Prohibition of Distribution through Service Activities

Any institution, enterprise, organization, and citizen shall not sell goods containing impure contents such as South Korean writings, drawings, and brands, and shall not produce and provide decadent and absurd compilations.

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Article 22. Prohibition of Viewing and Distribution through Confiscated Goods

Any law enforcement agency and its staff members shall strictly follow the management rule for confiscated goods, and shall not view confiscated propaganda materials or distribute them to other people.

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Article 23. Prohibition of Viewing and Reproducing Adult Videos, and Spreading Superstition

Any citizen shall not view, distribute, and reproduce sexually explicit movies and photographs, adult videos, and superstitious propaganda materials.

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Article 24. Prohibition of Speaking, Writing or Singing in South Korean Style

Any institution, enterprise, organization, and citizen shall not speak, write or sing in South Korean style, and shall not exchange text message in South Korean way of speaking.
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Article 25. Prohibition of Illegal Viewing and Distribution of Propaganda Materials

Any institution, enterprise, organization, and citizen shall not view or distribute foreign propaganda materials, non-disclosed propaganda materials, and illegally produced propaganda materials, that are banned or unapproved.

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Article 26. Home Discipline and Control

Parents shall strengthen home discipline and tighten control on their children to ensure they do not view or distribute impure propaganda materials.

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CHAPTER IV. LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR VIOLATING REACTIONARY IDEOLOGY AND CULTURE REJECTION ORDER

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Article 27. Crime of Distributing South Korean Ideology and Culture

Any person who views, listens to, or possesses South Korean movies, video recordings, compilations, books, songs, drawings, or photographs, or who brings in and distributes South Korean songs, drawings, photographs, or designs shall be sentenced to 5 to 10 years of reform through labor. If the severity of the crime is deemed high, the offender shall be sentenced to reform through labor for 10 years or more. Any person who brings in or distributes South Korean movies, video recordings, compilations, and books shall be sentenced to reform through labor for life.

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Article 28. Crime of Distributing Ideology and Culture of Hostile Countries

Any person who views, listens to, or possesses movies, video recordings, books, songs, drawings, or photographs of hostile countries, or who brings in and distributes songs, drawings, photographs, or designs of hostile countries shall be sentenced to reform through labor for up to 5 years. If the severity of the crime is deemed high, the offender shall be sentenced to 5 to 10 years of reform through labor.Any person who brings in or distributes movies, video recordings, compilations, and books of hostile countries shall be sentenced to reform through labor for 10 years or more. Any person who brings in or distributes a large amount of movies, video recordings, compilations, and books of hostile countries to a large number of people, or who supports or encourages other people to view or read them in a group shall be sentenced to reform through labor for life or the death penalty.

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Article 29. Crime of Distributing Adult Videos and Sexually Explicit Materials and Spreading Superstition

Any person who views or possesses adult videos, sexually explicit or superstitious movies, video recordings, compilations, books, photographs, or drawings shall be sentenced to 5 to 10 years of reform through labor. If the severity of the crime is deemed high, the offender shall be sentenced to reform through labor for 10 years or more. Any person who produces, brings in or distributes adult videos, sexually explicit or superstitious movies, video recordings, compilations, books, photographs, or drawings shall be sentenced to reform through labor for life.Any person who produces, brings in or distributes a large amount of adult videos, sexually explicit or superstitious movies, video recordings, compilations, books, photographs, and drawings to a large number of people, or who supports or encourages other people to view or read them in a group shall be sentenced to death.

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Article 30. Crime of Distributing Absurd Ideology and Culture

Any person who views, listens to, or possesses movies, video recordings, compilations, books, songs, drawings, or photographs of foreign countries that go against socialist ideology and culture and our own lifestyle, or who illegally brings in and distributes songs, drawings, photographs, designs, or clothes of foreign countries shall be sentenced to shortterm disciplinary labor. If the severity of the crime is deemed high, the offender shall be sentenced to up to 5 years of reform through labor.Any person who illegally brings in or distributes movies, video recordings, compilations, and books of foreign countries shall be sentenced to 5 to 10 years of reform through labor. Any person who brings in or distributes a large amount of movies, video recordings, compilations, and books of foreign countries to a large number of people, or who supports or encourages other people to view or read them in a group shall be sentenced to reform through labor for 10 years or more.

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Article 31. Crime of Distributing impure Culture

Any person who views, listens to, or possesses any video recordings, compilations, photographs, and publications that contain decadent and absurd contents produced by individuals shall be sentenced to short-term disciplinary labor.Any person who produces or distributes any video recordings, compilations, songs, photographs, and publications that contain decadent and absurd content shall be sentenced to reform through labor for up to three years. If the severity of the crime is deemed high, the offender shall be sentenced to 3 to 5 years of reform through labor.

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Article 32. Crime of Reproducing South Korean Culture

Any person who speaks, writes, or sings in the South Korean style, or produces publications in South Korean font shall be sentenced to short-term disciplinary labor. If the severity of the crime is deemed high, the offender shall be sentenced to reform through labor up to 2 years.

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Article 33. Crime of Violating Order for Use of Electronic and Radiocommunication Equipments

Any person who violates the order for the use of electronic and radiocommunication equipments such as televisions, radios, and computers shall be sentenced to short-term disciplinary labor. Should the severity of the crime is deemed high, the offender shall be sentenced to reform through labor up to 5 years.

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Article 34. Crime of Not Reporting

Any person who is aware of any activities to bring in, view, and distribute culture of South Korea or hostile countries and adult videos, but is negligent in reporting them to the authorities shall be sentenced to short-term disciplinary labor.

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Article 35. Re-Educational Labor Punishment on Citizens who Commit Crimes

Any citizen who violates the following reactionary ideology and culture rejection order shall be sentenced to re-educational labor for three months or more.
1. When distributing movies, video recordings, compilations, books, photographs, or drawings that are banned to be released, published, or read by the State
2. When illegally producing video recordings, compilations, or publications
3. When illegally installing operating system programs on hand phones of other people
4. When possessing hand phones of foreign countries

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Article 36. Punishments of Unpaid Labor, Demotion, Dismissal, and Removal of Position on Workers who Commit Crimes

If reactionary ideology and culture penetrates into our society as a result of irresponsible inspection, supervision, and control including customs inspection, or crimes related to reactionary ideology and culture occur as a result of irresponsible law-abiding education for 13and lax control on employees and students, the accountable worker shall be punished with unpaid labor. If the severity of the crime is deemed high, the offender shall be punished with demotion, dismissal, or removal of their positions.

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Article 37. Fines on Citizens who Commit Crimes

Any citizen who violates the following reactionary ideology and culture rejection orders will be fined accordingly.
1. A fine of 10,000 to 50,000 KPW, when viewing, reading or possessing movies, video recordings, compilations or books that are banned to be released, published, or read by the State
2. A fine of 50,000 to 100,000 KPW, when violating the procedure for the registration and inspection of electronic, radiocommunication, broadcast and communication equipments while using equipments and apparatuses such as televisions, radios, and computers or when using hand phones without a censorship software that blocks impure propaganda materials
3. A fine of 100,000 to 200,000 KPW, when producing photographs, drawings or writings that offend our own lifestyle and traditions
4. A fine of 100,000 to 200,000 KPW, when crimes related to reactionary ideology and culture occur as a result of parents’ failure to educate and discipline their children

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Article 38. Fines on Institution, Enterprise, Organization, that Commit Crimes

Any institution, enterprise, organization, that violates the following reactionary ideology and culture rejection order will be fined accordingly.1. A fine of 1 million to 1.5 million KPW, when bringing in electronic, radiocommunication, broadcasting, communications and printing equipments and apparatuses, publications, and memory devices while violating relevant supervision guidelines including customs inspection2. A fine of 1 million to 1.5 million KPW, when creating a space where reactionary ideology and culture could be brought in or distributed as a result of careless control on the Internet or computer network

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Article 39. Suspension or Termination of Businesses

If the severity of crimes of Article 38 is deemed high, the offender shall be forced to suspend their businesses. If the severity of crimes of the Article 38 is deemed extremely high, the offender shall be forced to terminate their businesses.

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Article 40. Confiscation of Money and Goods Used for Criminal and Illicit Activities

Any money or goods used for criminal or illicit activities that go against the reactionary ideology and culture rejection order or obtained through such activities shall be confiscated.

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Article 41. Relationship with Other Acts

Remedies not regulated by this act, such as the principles, procedures and methods of application of penal or administrative punishment for violations of the reactionary ideology and culture rejection order shall be governed by applicable acts and regulations.

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