Alright, gamers, this one’s a bit shocking. Imagine getting two months of unpaid labor just because of your in-game nickname. Sounds extreme, right? Well, that’s exactly what happened to three North Korean teens recently.
The Incident – Three middle school students in North Korea, aged 14-15, got into serious trouble for using South Korean-style nicknames while gaming.
What’s Wrong with the Nicknames? – They chose names with "Lee" instead of the North Korean "Ri" and threw in English words like "dragon" and "king." Apparently, that was a big no-no in North Korea.
Who Found Out? – The General Political Bureau was conducting an investigation into "nonsocialist behavior" (basically, anything that seems influenced by South Korean or Western culture) and flagged their usernames.
Serious Business – North Korean officials decided that this wasn’t just a small issue. They viewed it as a clear sign of cultural infiltration and handed down a harsh punishment.
Who Were These Kids? – The crazy part? They weren’t just any random students. They were children of senior military security officers. Normally, kids from powerful families get away with a lot—but not this time.
Harsh Consequences – The students had to write multiple self-criticism statements (basically, admitting their “wrongdoing” over and over). And then came the real kicker: two months of unpaid labor.
Why So Extreme? – North Korea takes cultural influence very seriously. Even minor hints of South Korean or Western trends are considered threats to the state’s strict ideology.
This case shows just how strictly North Korea is enforcing its cultural policies—even kids from high-ranking families aren’t immune.
(Thanks Daily NK)
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