squid game

Why North Korea isn’t happy about South Korea’s pop culture soft power

GZERO World Clips

Why North Korea isn’t happy about South Korea’s pop culture soft power

South Korea is having a global pop culture moment. Right now Squid Game is top show on Netflix. Parasite was the first non-English language film to win Best Picture at the 2020 Oscars. And then there's BTS, breaking records with their songs and even making a splash at the UN, further proof of K-pop's influence beyond music along with online fans ruining a Trump rally in Oklahoma. As South Korea expands its soft power, Kim Jong Un sees it as a growing threat to his rule over North Korea, and says K-pop is a "vicious cancer."

South Korea's pop culture moment

GZERO World Clips

South Korea's pop culture moment

First it was Parasite at the Oscars. Then BTS dazzling young people worldwide. Now everyone's glued to Squid Game. What will South Korea come up with next? For veteran Korea correspondent Jean Lee, the country is definitely punching above its (geographical) weight on soft power. She says South Korea has the potential to shape global culture like England did in its heyday. Watch a clip from her interview with Ian Bremmer on the upcoming episode of GZERO World.