North Korean youth are holding more subdued end-of-year celebrations compared to previous years, according to a source in North Hwanghae province.
The parties, scheduled between Dec. 22-29, hold similar significance to South Korean celebrations – a time for reflection on the year’s achievements and setbacks while sharing encouragement and entertainment. However, North Korean gatherings traditionally carry distinct political and propagandistic elements, with participants expected to praise state leadership and pledge loyalty to the Workers’ Party and Kim Jong Un.
Youth celebrations are breaking from this pattern, trending toward more personal gatherings focused on friendship rather than regime devotion. This is especially true for graduating high school seniors, who view these as final celebrations with classmates.
“Students are investing more in these farewell parties – collecting enough money for at least 3 kilograms of rice, compared to 2 kilograms for regular gatherings,” the source said. “They’re planning full-day events with sports and walks around the neighborhood.”
Most parents support these expenses, believing these may be their children’s last chances for carefree enjoyment. Teachers and local officials have been generally accepting of these gatherings rather than viewing them as problematic.
The parties typically take place in spacious, quiet homes of well-off families, with parents often preparing the food. However, one strict limitation remains: South Korean cultural content is forbidden under recently passed laws targeting foreign influence – the Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Act, Youth Education Guarantee Act, and Pyongyang Cultural Language Protection Act. This restriction has become particularly severe this year as authorities emphasize their “two hostile states” stance toward South Korea.
“Students can no longer openly enjoy South Korean music like before,” the source noted. “While some view this restraint as ‘mature,’ many young people feel frustrated by this obvious repression.
“These gatherings notably lack the usual praise for party leadership or pledges of loyalty – it’s simply about having fun,” the source added. “In a way, isn’t their focus on pure enjoyment itself a subtle critique of the leadership’s restrictions on their freedom?”
December 27, 2024 at 12:00PM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)