Alternative radio stations opening hearts and minds in North Korea

Title: North Korea radio

Reporter: Vitri Angreni
Date:
INTRO:
Media in North Korea is completely stated controlled.
Bt there are a nm!er o" alternative radio stations that !roadcast via short#ave "rom $oth
Korea into the North.
One is Radio "ree %hosn. They have !een !roadcasting daily ne#s& "eatres and in'depth
analyses to the North Korean p!lic "or almost () years.
The *resident o" the radio +ee K#ang'Bae, recently visited -a,arta and is spo,e #ith Vitri
Angreni a!ot their programs.
TEXT:
+ee %lip ( .male& /nglish0: 12e have three ,ind o" programs. 3irst is ne#s. The ne#s containing
in"ormation on North Korea& $oth Korea and the #orld "or one hor. The second is /dcation&
#e try to teach the North Korea people a!ot the idea o" "reedom& hman rights and democracy.
Also North Korean people can have access to "oreign songs& movies& drama or sop opera as #e
prodce a radio program a!ot cltre.4
Q. What is the respond from the North Korean people about your program?
+ee %lip 5 .male& /nglish0: 1It6s almost impossi!le to see or hear the North Korea peoples direct
reaction !ecase the society completely closed. 7o#ever #e have heard "rom de"ectors #ho
escape "rom North Korea that they listen to or radio station. Throgh sch indirect in"ormation
#e can see that some North Korea people are listening to or program. 2e did a srvey o" 5))
de"ectors and 8 o" them #ere listeners o" Radio 3ree %hosn.4
1O" corse in North Korea listening to a "oreign radio station is a crime. A political crime that is
pnisha!le. Bt the pnishment has !een lighten lately so it means the nm!er o" listeners #ill
increase.4
Q. How are people punished for listening to your radio?
+ee %lip 9 .male& /nglish0 1The simple pnishment is having yor radio ta,en a#ay. That6s the
lightest one. Bt yo cold also !e pt in :ail. And the harshest is e;ection. 7o#ever e;ections
have !ecome very rare. 2hat #e have heard is that people can !ri!e their #ay ot o" !eing
arrested. The police and the :stice system is very corrpt. %orrption is <ite over#helming. As
the pnishment has !een lightened or listeners have increased.4
Q. o you thin! listener numbers ha"e gone up #ust be$ause there is a lighter punishment
or be$ause people are starting to be$ome aware that something is happening in their
$ountry?
+ee %lip = .male& /nglish0: 1It6s a really good point. I thin, !oth things are happening at the
same time.4
B>A: The *resident o" Radio "ree %hosn +ee K#ang'Bae,?they !roadcast via short#ave "rom
$eol into North Korea.