Ben Silberstein: North Korea and social structures of control - a podcast by Justin Ahn

Ben Silberstein recently received his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, writing his dissertation on original research of social structures in North Korea. He shares tragic glimpses into the former experiences of many defectors to South Korea, and some of their reflections. We discuss songbun, North Korea's rigid caste system that organizes people into social classes based on their family's loyalty to the government, exploring its legitimization, implementation, and possible subversion through public reaction and economic development. Then, we talk about surveillance, involving a network of spies and self-censorship. 

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