In a rare glimpse into life within the reclusive “hermit kingdom,” personal belongings of North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine have revealed the surprising influence of South Korean popular culture, according to a report by The Times, UK. Among the items recovered from deceased soldiers were photographs featuring South Korean internet memes, suggesting a subtle cultural penetration despite strict North Korean laws banning the consumption of South Korean media.
One notable discovery was a family photograph belonging to a fallen North Korean officer, which featured a digitally edited image of Gaejugi, a popular South Korean internet character depicting a bashful laughing dog. The meme, widely used in South Korea to convey awkwardness or discomfort, was superimposed onto a coastal landscape backdrop in the soldier’s photo. The image, dated August 2024, included the caption, “This will be a beautiful memory,” a phrase commonly used in North Korean photo studios.
North Korean defectors consulted by NK News, an American outlet specializing in North Korean affairs, confirmed the authenticity of the photograph. A defector identified only as Rose, who escaped North Korea in 2019, noted that the photo’s style and editing were consistent with practices in the North. However, it remains unclear whether the soldiers or photo editors were aware of the meme’s South Korean origins, as similar dog images are also used in Chinese photo editing.
Cheol-hoon Park, another defector, suggested that the elaborate editing of the photo indicated the soldier’s family might have been of middle-class status, as most North Koreans typically have their photos taken against simple backdrops without such enhancements.
The discovery comes amid reports that North Korea has deployed approximately 11,000 soldiers to support Russian forces in Ukraine, with around 3,000 casualties reported, according to Ukrainian intelligence. Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Directorate (GUR), stated that while North Korea is expected to send additional artillery and ballistic missiles, further ground troop deployments are unlikely due to heavy losses.
Budanov also revealed that North Korea has supplied Russia with 148 KN-23 short-range ballistic missiles and significant quantities of artillery, including 170mm M1989 Koksan guns and M-1991 240mm rocket systems. He predicted the arrival of 150 more KN-23 missiles and additional artillery pieces in the coming months.
