March 29, 2024
Features

“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

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.

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