A popular propaganda song that praises North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has become very popular on TikTok.
Key points:
- Gen Z TikTok TikTok users have enthusiastically embraced the song, titled “Friendly Father,” due to its lively rhythm and memorable melody.
- The song glorifies Kim Jong Un as “the great leader” and encourages people to praise him as “our friendly father.” Kim Experts say North Korean music is used to teach people a certain set of beliefs.
- The details:
@juche.idea Kim Jong-Un’s newest song, “Friendly Father”. #korean #dprk #koreansong #kpop #nkpop #uwu #bts #blackpink #northkorea🇰🇵 #northkorea #fyp #for #you ♬ suara asli – Lie Jhoni
The lyrics of “Friendly Father” indicate an attempt to elevate Kim’s status similar to his predecessors,
- . A line from the popular song says: “Let’s sing Kim Jong Un, the great leader/ Let’s brag about Kim Jong Un, our friendly father.” Despite its clear ideological purpose, the song and other North Korean music videos have garnered millions of views on TikTok. Commenters Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Ilthat they hope “Friendly Father” becomes trendy, with some praising the tune for giving them “anime vibes.”
- is strictly regulated and most songs are meant to spread political beliefs and encourage loyalty to the government. The songs are crafted to have straightforward lyrics and memorable melodies in order to be an effective tool for spreading political ideas. drawn “The goal is to inspire people to work towards a shared objective for the good of the nation… they don’t usually create songs like slow love songs,” University of Cambridge scholar Alexandra Leonzini, who studies North Korean music, told BBC. joke “Songs are used to communicate the direction the government is taking… to highlight important moments and significant political developments,” Leonzini added. “A song is almost like the newspaper in North Korea.” SpotifyA popular propaganda song that praises North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has become very popular on TikTok.
Key points: - Experts say music in North Korea is tightly controlled and most compositions are intended to spread ideological messages and reinforce loyalty to the regime. The songs are designed to have simple lines and catchy tunes to be an effective propaganda tool.
- “The idea is they want to motivate, to strive towards a common goal for the benefit of the nation… they don’t tend to produce songs like ballads,” Cambridge University scholar Alexandra Leonzini, who researches North Korean music, told BBC.
- “Songs are used to telegraph the direction the state is going in… to signpost important moments and important developments in politics,” Leonzini added. “A song is almost like the newspaper in North Korea.”
