South Korea bans videos using North's catchy propaganda song

South Korea’s media regulator banned access to videos using North Korea's most recent propaganda earworm.

A screen capture of the music video for "Friendly Father," the latest North Korean propaganda song, showing North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and schoolchildren. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

South Korea’s media regulator banned access to videos using North Korea's propaganda music idolizing leader Kim Jong-un.

The song, titled “Friendly Father,” became a social media hit globally after it was unveiled last month by North Korea’s state television.

The Korea Communications Standards Commission convened a committee on Monday and blocked access to 29 videos across social media platforms featuring the song, aiming to restrict exposure to the efforts by Kim’s regime to glorify its leader.

The song praises leader Kim as a friendly father, and its video shows citizens and soldiers enthusiastically shouting lyrics such as “he is holding a million children in his arms and takes care of us with all of his heart.”

The decision to ban the video came after Seoul's intelligence authorities claimed that the song breached the National Security Law.

In a statement on Monday, the media regulator said the video is “typical content associated with psychological warfare against South Korea, as it was posted on a channel dedicated to reach the outside world, and primarily focused on unilaterally idolizing and glorifying Kim.”

TikTok users dance to the North Korean propaganda song, "Friendly Father," in a screen capture of TikTok. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

The tune has been going viral on TikTok, with users creating dance moves to accompany it, while others craft piano versions of the song. Some users are sarcastically calling it "the best song of the year," while others joke that it's "real K-pop."

However, some TikTok users expressed concern about a propaganda song becoming a trend, fearing its potential to glorify dictator Kim.

While the 29 designated videos are no longer accessible in South Korea, clips continue to circulate on media platforms.

BY WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]