New YouTube Channel Aims to Bridge the Gap for North Koreans
A new YouTube channel named ‘KIS (Korea Internet Studio)’ has been launched with the goal of reaching North Korean residents in approximately 40 countries around the world. This initiative is designed to provide a vital link between North Koreans and the global community, offering them access to information that is otherwise difficult to obtain.
Lee Young-hyun’s Vision for KIS
Lee Young-hyun, the first North Korean defector lawyer and representative of KIS, emphasized the importance of this platform during the launch ceremony held at the Seoul Midtown Press Center on the 11th. He stated, “We will become a new window for North Korean residents to meet the world,” adding, “Our mission is to deliver accurate and reliable information to North Koreans isolated from the world, helping them understand and judge the world on their own.”
Born in Hamhung in 1983, Lee defected in 1997 and settled in South Korea in 2002. After five attempts, he became the first North Korean defector in the country to obtain a lawyer’s qualification. His experience has driven his commitment to providing essential information to those still living under the regime.
Expanding Access Through Technology
Lee highlighted the primary goal of KIS: to provide information to North Koreans residing abroad. He also shared a long-term vision of enabling all North Koreans living in North Korea to watch KIS broadcasts through satellite communication technologies like Starlink. This ambition reflects the growing need for alternative sources of information in a country where access to external media is heavily restricted.
KIS plans to upload customized content tailored to specific groups such as North Korean workers, diplomats, and international students stationed abroad. The content will be available on a total of 11 global video platforms, including those in China and Russia, ensuring wider reach and accessibility.
Perspectives from Other Advocates
Park Seok-gil, co-representative of the Korean branch of the U.S. North Korea human rights group ‘LiNK, Liberty in North Korea,’ noted during the KIS launch commemorative discussion that North Koreans abroad can store and bring in content they accessed externally upon returning to North Korea through various methods. He added, “This can create a secondary audience as they share it with family and close friends.”
Lee Kwang-baek, representative of the National Unification Broadcasting, pointed out the growing number of workers dispatched to China and Russia, estimating the figure to be between 50,000 and 100,000 in the near future. He emphasized the increasing need for online broadcasts targeting these workers, overseas diplomats, and their families.
Tailored Content for International Students
Kim Jeong-guk, who defected in 2015 while studying in France, suggested that providing practical, customized information for international students would be highly beneficial. He mentioned that materials interpreting the latest dramas, songs, and news from a North Korean perspective would be greatly appreciated. Kim added that international students often feel pressured by the idea that countries like South Korea are trying to induce ideological changes in them, so content that is more entertaining and easier to understand would be preferable.
Personal Stories and Impact
Lee You-mi, who runs a YouTube channel with 720,000 subscribers for North Korean defectors, shared her perspective on the power of personal stories. She said, “Even just sharing our daily lives is an enormous story for North Korean residents.” She recounted how listening to a radio broadcast for North Koreans where a defected North Korean woman talked about her daily life before defecting inspired her to set a new goal in life and eventually come to South Korea.
Choi Ji-cheol, a former worker dispatched to Russia, described his experience of being exposed to the Korean Wave, Hallyu, despite strict controls. He said, “I watched it on my smartphone under the covers, and despite strong controls by the security forces, about 50–60% of people still watch it.” Choi added that since smartphone inspections are conducted every Friday, he carried a separate phone for watching Hallyu alongside the inspection phone. He expressed hope for broadcasts that show how defectors who came to South Korea have settled and live.
Funding and Support
KIS is operated through private donations. Donations can be made to Hana Bank account 178-910018-95705. This financial model underscores the importance of community support in sustaining the channel’s mission to inform and connect North Koreans with the outside world.