North Korean Children Forced to Witness Executions for Watching ‘Squid Game’
Children in North Korea are being forced to witness executions of peers for consuming foreign media, exposing them to extreme psychological stress and trauma that can affect development, behavior, and long-term mental health. Experts emphasize the urgent need to prioritize children’s safety and well-being in all contexts.
Amnesty International has reported that children in North Korea are being compelled to witness the execution of teenagers for watching South Korean media, including the popular series Squid Game. This practice, framed as part of “ideological education,” has serious implications for child development and safeguarding.
Testimonies from former residents describe middle and high school students being taken to observe public executions. Defectors reported that witnessing these events left lasting psychological effects, including fear, anxiety, and trauma. One former resident, Kim Eunju, recalled being forced to attend such an execution at the age of 16 or 17: “It was meant to scare us, and it stayed with us for years.”
Psychological Impact on Children
Exposure to extreme violence can have profound and long-lasting consequences on children. Experts note that children who witness executions may develop:
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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
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Anxiety, depression, or sleep disturbances
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Emotional numbness or difficulty forming trusting relationships
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Impaired cognitive and social development
The trauma extends beyond those who witness the events directly. Families and communities are also affected as children process fear, uncertainty, and grief, which can influence their emotional resilience and behavior long-term.
International Child Protection Standards
Under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), children have the right to protection from all forms of physical or mental violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation (Article 19). The CRC also affirms that children’s best interests should be a primary consideration in all actions affecting them (Article 3). Forcing children to witness executions violates these principles and places them at risk of severe psychological harm.
Child protection specialists emphasize that safeguarding measures must ensure that children are not exposed to extreme violence in any context. Exposure to such acts during formative years can shape lifelong emotional and behavioral patterns, limiting their ability to thrive and function safely in society.
Safeguarding Recommendations
While addressing systemic issues can be complex, experts highlight several measures to protect children from trauma:
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Ensuring access to safe educational environments free from exposure to extreme violence
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Providing psychosocial support and counseling to children who have experienced trauma
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Promoting awareness of children’s psychological needs during conflict or politically sensitive periods
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Implementing child-centered policies in schools and community programs
Children’s mental health and safety must remain the priority in all contexts. Witnessing extreme violence, even when intended as education, can leave permanent scars on developing minds, affecting their behavior, learning, and social interactions.
The reports from North Korea serve as a reminder that children’s rights and protection must always come first. Exposure to extreme violence, directly or indirectly, can have lasting effects on emotional, cognitive, and social development. International frameworks like the CRC stress the importance of safeguarding children from trauma, ensuring that their well-being is prioritized in every situation, regardless of broader societal or political pressures.
