"Flames": how an unusual tale of North Korean romance pushed the boundaries

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“Flames”: how an unusual tale of North Korean romance pushed the boundaries

Unrequited love and female-on-male harassment define this unique DPRK-made serial

Tatiana Gabroussenko March 20, 2019

“Flames”: how an unusual tale of North Korean romance pushed the boundaries

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The last decade of Kim Jong Il's rule brought many changes to North Korean mass culture, the most significant of which was the introduction of a new type of TV serials.

Unlike the serials of the past such as "Star of Korea" (1980-1987) or "Nation and Destiny" (1992-2002), which consisted of several films only loosely connected to each-other, the serials of the 2000s were closer to classic TV dramas, in which one story unfolds over many episodes.

About the Author

Tatiana Gabroussenko

Tatiana Gabroussenko obtained her PhD in East Asian Studies at the Australian National University. She is currently a professor of North Korean studies at Korea University, Seoul. Her latest book, "Soldiers on the Cultural Front: Developments in the Early History of North Korean Literature and Literary Policy," was included in the Choice magazine list of Outstanding Academic Titles of 2012.

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