Young-sun Jeon, Professor at Konkuk University, examines the evolution of North Korean films and dramas during the Kim Jong Un era, noting that while production volume has sharply declined, the directing and storytelling have become significantly more sophisticated. He specifically highlights that recent works focus on "counter-espionage" (bantam) narratives—centered on protecting the Supreme Leader from external threats—as a key mechanism to strengthen internal cohesion. Furthermore, Professor Jeon sharply investigates the current state of North Korean popular culture, which utilizes Cold War sentiments as a tool for regime maintenance. |
