South Korea imposes ban on viral TikTok song which idolises North's Kim Jong Un
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends a ground test of a solid-fuel engine.
South Korea banned a viralpropagandasong from North Korea, which gained popularity inTikTok,because it idolised Pyongyang's leader Kim Jong Un as a "friendly father" and "great leader".
The media regulator of South Korea said that the music video, which gained massive popularity on TikTok after it was released in April, violated the National Security Act of the country.
"[The song] idolises Kim Jong Un and praises and glorifies him," said Seoul's Korea Communications Standards Commission, in a statement on Monday (May 20).
Access to the government websites andmedia of North Korea has been blocked under the Security Act which penalises behaviours and speeches that are in favour of Kim Jong Un's regime.
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The Friendly Father music video's 29 versions will be blocked, said the commission, however, it did not say how it will be done.
The decision to block the song was taken after a request by South Korea's National Intelligence Service, it said.
“The video is typical content linked to psychological warfare against South Korea, asit was postedon a channel operated to connect with the outside world andis mainly focusedon unilaterally idolising and glorifying Kim,” said the regulator.
South Koreans wish for no ban on the song to 'enjoy the joke'
South Koreans' interestin the viral song increased after the imposition of a ban was announced. Some South Koreans said that the video should be left accessible "so that more people can enjoy the joke".
"Friendly Father" has emerged as the latest among the pop songs being churned out by the propaganda machine of Pyongyang in the past 50 years.
In the catchy, bright-tempo song, Kim has been described as “father” and “the Great”, which are the terms that were earlier reserved for the first leader of North Korea Kim Il Sung.
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“Let’s sing Kim Jong Un, the great leader/ Let’s brag about Kim Jong Un, our friendly father,” the song goes.
SomeTikTok users said that they play the song while exercising in the gym or doing homework, while others say that it has a nostalgic style which is a reminder of older Spanish and French pop music.
North Korea and South Korea were divided afterthe Korean War came to an end in 1953 with an armistice. No peace treaty was signed between the two countries.
(With inputs from agencies)