The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    INTERVIEWYim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston'

  • 3

    S. Korea to stage massive military parade as tensions with North remain high

  • 5

    China's 'batwoman' scientist warns another coronavirus outbreak is 'highly likely'

  • 7

    Seoul, Beijing try to mend fences as Russia and N. Korea grow closer

  • 9

    4 in 10 Koreans experience overdue wages: survey

  • 11

    Korea, Saudi Arabia celebrate 93rd Saudi National Day, vow stronger cooperation

  • 13

    The ethical issues of AI: fighting the right battles

  • 15

    Low growth becomes new normal for Korean economy

  • 17

    LG Chem to build LFP cathode plant with Huayou in Morocco

  • 19

    Actor Song Joong-ki still hungry for new movie roles

  • 2

    Samsung, SK relieved by revised chip restrictions on China

  • 4

    K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran

  • 6

    BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D'

  • 8

    Tanghulu captures hearts of Korean millennials and Gen Z

  • 10

    Patients, doctors at loggerheads as operating room CCTV footage made mandatory

  • 12

    PHOTOSHarvest season arrives

  • 14

    Lee Jae-myung's possible arrest looms over main opposition party

  • 16

    Mirae Asset Global Investments' AUM reaches $219 bil.

  • 18

    Bears of Joseon part 2: Behind bars

  • 20

    An American high school experience in Seoul

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Tue, September 26, 2023 | 22:07
Food
Even N. Korea watches 'Descendants of the Sun'
태양의 후예, 北에서도 시청한다지 말입니다
Posted : 2016-04-10 16:08
Updated : 2016-04-10 16:50
Ko Dong-hwan
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Song Joong-ki(left) and Song Hye-kyo from KBS's 'Descendants of the Sun' / Courtesy of KBS
Song Joong-ki(left) and Song Hye-kyo from KBS's "Descendants of the Sun"
/ Courtesy of KBS

By Ko Dong-hwan


KBS TV's mega-hit drama "Descendants of the Sun" is gathering a following in one of the world's most secluded communist states ― North Korea.

Local daily newspaper Kyunghyang Shimmun, quoting a North Korean defector, said Friday the defector's family in the North had watched the drama's first eight episodes via the Internet.

The report said "some North Koreans had begun to get love-sick with the drama."

"More smartphones have been distributed to people and better Internet networks have been established compared to the past," the report said, quoting a North Korean expert.

The drama is set in the fictional war-torn country of Uruk. Its male lead, Song Joong-ki, who plays unrealistically perfect special unit chief Yoo Si-jin, falls in love with Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo), a doctor from non-profit organization Doctors Without Borders.

The 14-part drama has caused frenzy among fans outside Korea. The drama's title was at one stage the most-searched keyword on China's No.1 SNS provider, Weibo. U.S.-based video-streaming website Viki has made the drama's subtitles available in 32 languages, including English, Chinese, Malaysian and Vietnamese. Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha has urged his citizens to watch the drama because it has "a sense of patriotism and sacrifice for one's country."

The drama's last episode airs on April 14.


태양의 후예, 北에서도 시청한다지 말입니다

북한에서도 한류드라마 “태양의 후예”를 보는 것으로 확인됐다.

지난 8일 경향신문은 “드라마가 북한에도 침투했다”며 “북한 주민들도 ‘태후 앓이’에 빠졌다”고 단독 보도했다.

매체는 10년째 국내 거주 중인 한 탈북자와 인터뷰했다. 그는 “최근 북한에 있는 가족과 통화를 했는데, ‘태양의 후예’ 12회 본방 당시 북한 가족이 ‘태양의 후예’를 8회까지 봤다더라”고 밝혔다. 그는 가족들이 인터넷을 통해 드라마를 봤다고 전한 것으로 알려졌다.

매체는 한 북한학 연구자를 통해 “북한에도 스마트폰이 보급돼 있고, 인터넷망 역시 이전과는 달리 상대적으로 활성화된 덕에 한국 드라마 시청도 이뤄지고 있는 것으로 보인다”고 전했다.
Emailaoshima11@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1Tanghulu captures hearts of Korean millennials and Gen Z Tanghulu captures hearts of Korean millennials and Gen Z
24 in 10 Koreans experience overdue wages: survey 4 in 10 Koreans experience overdue wages: survey
3[PHOTOS] Harvest season arrives PHOTOSHarvest season arrives
4Korea has world's highest senior poverty rate: data Korea has world's highest senior poverty rate: data
5K-pop fans rally in Seoul against luxury brands' failure on climate action K-pop fans rally in Seoul against luxury brands' failure on climate action
6Korean gov't faces international criticism for R&D budget cuts Korean gov't faces international criticism for R&D budget cuts
7LG Uplus, Hanwha develop ceiling-mounted EV charging system LG Uplus, Hanwha develop ceiling-mounted EV charging system
8[EXCLUSIVE] Lawmakers to submit resolution urging China to free N. Korean escapees EXCLUSIVELawmakers to submit resolution urging China to free N. Korean escapees
9SK earthon begins crude oil production in South China Sea SK earthon begins crude oil production in South China Sea
10Main opposition chief in showdown with prosecutors over arrest Main opposition chief in showdown with prosecutors over arrest
Top 5 Entertainment News
1K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran
2BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D' BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D'
3Cho Seong-jin celebrates 140-year ties between Korea, UK Cho Seong-jin celebrates 140-year ties between Korea, UK
4[INTERVIEW] ONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince' INTERVIEWONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince'
5Kep1er unveils 'Magic Hour' with fresh perspective on love Kep1er unveils 'Magic Hour' with fresh perspective on love
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group