How Accurate Is North Korea's Image In Crash Landing On You?

JAKARTA - This week the Korean drama Crash Landing on You is entering its last two episodes. The love story between Ri Jeong Hyeok (Hyun Bin) from North Korea and Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye Jin) from South Korea is still a question even though this drama will end.

On the broadcast of episode 14 last week, Yoon Se-ri was still hospitalized after being shot by Cho Chul Kang (Oh Man Seok). Jeong Hyeok also experienced a tense position when he tried to shoot Chul Kang but he was framed.

Even though in the real world the relationship between South and North Korea is not conducive, but - in the drama Crash Landing on You - the love story of Jeong Hyeok and Yoon Se-Ri is packed into an interesting spectacle.

Two North Korean survivors who became YouTubers; Han Songyi and Kang Nara shared their thoughts on the depiction of North Korea in Crash Landing on You. In fact, Kang Nara became a consultant for this drama to help the production staff in more detail.

Pronunciation of North Korean Characters

The main star of Crash Landing on You, Hyun Bin plays Ri Jeong Hyeok, a soldier from North Korea. According to Nara, Hyun Bin's pronunciation in this drama is very similar to North Korean people. Previously, Hyun Bin played a North Korean detective in the film Confidential Assignment so that Hyun Bin was used to pronouncing North Korean accents.

Han Songyi said there wasn't a North Korean soldier as handsome as Hyun Bin as in the drama. Reportedly the handsome person looks something like Jun Hyun Mo. However, young people in North Korea like types like Lee Min Ho, Hyun Bin, and Kwon Sang-woo. North Koreans don't use the word beautiful for women but only fair or not fair.

Everyday Life in North Korea

Many viewers are curious about whether life in North Korea is often passed without electricity. The answer is correct. In fact, this is common. Likewise with a train that stopped suddenly. There is a scene of Jeong Hyeok and Se-Ri going to Pyongyang by train to take passport photos, suddenly their train stops due to a blackout.

Songyi said it usually takes a week to go to Pyongyang from the province while island to island takes two weeks.

In addition, in Crash Landing on You, there is a scene where a house is suddenly inspected. This is especially true if you live in North Korea. Inspections are conducted to see if someone is hiding kimchi or strangers. So there is the term 숙박 검열 (Sukbapgeomyeol) or accommodation sensor, which is keeping foreigners from escaping to the river and avoiding inspections that are carried out every day. If a stranger is found in the house, that person should be investigated. You may remember that when Se-Ri arrived in North Korea, she had to always hide when there was a surprise inspection.

In North Korea, no one is allowed to watch Korean dramas. If caught, then there is a sentence in prison that is ready to wait. Most of these punishments are in the form of death sentences but if the person has money, he can be imprisoned for only 5-10 years.

Songyi said, North Korean people like to watch Korean dramas secretly. He admitted to being a fan of G-Dragon and Lee Min Ho through the content he saw while in North Korea.

Nara explained, in the drama Crash Landing on You, the soldiers wear the badge with their president's image all the time while the common people don't. This turned out to be wrong because all North Koreans are obliged to wear this badge on the left side of the clothing worn.

Alcohol and Dressing Style

In episode 4, the members Jeong Hyeok and Se-ri drink (소주) soju and shellfish outside the house. In fact, alcoholic drinks are usually made by homeowners and mixed with several ingredients such as corn and blueberries. They also don't usually mix drinks with shellfish. After making their own soju, they usually sell on the market even though it is prohibited by the government.

The style of North Korean dress is well described in Crash Landing on You. One of them is by the character Ma Young Ae (Kim Jung-Nan). However, North Koreans are not allowed to have long hair or perm hair.

Meanwhile, Han Songyi and Kang Nara said the drama Crash Landing on You was detailed enough to make production design look similar to North Korea.

This drama will air its last two episodes on February 14 and 15, 2020. After finishing, this drama will be replaced by Hi Bye Mama starting February 22, 2020.