A 22-year-old North Korean man was reportedly executed for listening to and distributing K-pop songs and films, in violation of the regime's strict ban on "malign" Western culture.

According to a South Korean report, the young man was publicly executed as a show of power by the authoritarian regime.

The severe punishment was detailed in a report issued by South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which compiled testimonies from nearly 650 North Korean defectors. This report sheds light on the regime's harsh measures to suppress Western influences.

The public execution took place in 2022 in the province of South Hwanghae. The young man had listened to 70 South Korean songs and watched three films, which he then shared with others. This act was deemed a serious breach of North Korea's stringent cultural laws.

The South Korean report underscores the extreme lengths to which the North Korean regime will go to maintain control and prevent the spread of foreign cultural influences. The incident is a stark reminder of the oppressive environment within North Korea and the severe consequences faced by those who defy its regulations.

SEE ALSO: Ministry of Justice considers granting long-term residency to foreign national who rescued grandmothers in wildfire