Entertainment Made By North Korea

[@PaperWill]

Help bring my weird plushie to life with a $2 pledge! www.makeship.com/petitions/plushie-will Go to ground.news/paper to stay fully informed on what’s happening in North Korea and around the world. Subscribe through my link for 40% off unlimited access this month. 1. Addendum: I'm currently looking into ways to categorize and share all the movies/music/tv shows/channels I found during research. For now: if there's anything from this video you'd like to watch for yourself, leave a comment/send me an email, and I'll provide a link! 2. Wanna listen to Funky's recording of "that" North Korean rock band at the end? Enjoy! kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2GYlZKjjZqbrbc 3. I may eventually released the full 9 hour version of the video. Bad news, it won't be for awhile. Good news, I promise it won't be behind a Patreon paywall or something. Maybe the subchannel. But.... 4....If you'd like to see the full Collision in Korea segment I had to cut for copyright issues, here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXfLZoVvjdycn6c 5. Recommended channels/reading: StreeterSweeper's excellent video on the difficulties of studying North Korea: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZWofWSjbbWbj9E (It's one of my favorite KZbin videos of all time, please check it out!) North Korea Uncovered www.youtube.com/@NorthKoreaUncovered DPRK Explained kzbin.info Jacco Zwetsloot's wonderful thesis on NK comics, "North Korean Comics and their Visual Language in the Work of Ch’oe Hyŏk" t.co/fAB98iYYO6 6. Additional Sources List/Recommended Reading/Accounts from the March can be found here: pastebin.com/7X2QJsc5 7. Corrections/Notes - The Kim Il Sung "cameos" were actually performed by several actors, not Kim Il Sung himself. I phrased it REALLY badly in the video by comparing it to Stan Lee cameos, that's my bad. - Quite a few users have pointed out, I was 100% wrong about the Simba/Kimba White Lion comparison! If you'd like to learn more, YMS has a terrific video explaining the situation, (kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWalYqB_m7aopZY) - In later seasons of Squirrel and Hedgehog, the real-world country comparisons become a lot more cut and dry. I should have talked a bit more about that. - The "Now You Realize This Means War" comic seems to be a fake. What a terrible, wonderful relief. (I'll credit the user who mentioned this once I get their approval!) - Thanks to @derbydali for pointing out that Shonen Mowgli Jungle Book and Robin Hood were produced in Japan, and only distributed by MondoTV. - @hogziller pointed out that the train game was a minigame Uriminzokkiri apparently took from Railroad Tycoon 3. - Some people have pointed out that in the 2000s, Squirrel and Hedgehog really began leaning heavily into more obvious parallels (the wolves are America, bears are Russia, etc.) and I think that's true, but I maintain that in the 70s and 80s, the characters were more representations of general ideas and not specific countries. Just my opinion though! If I missed something, please let me know and I'll add it to the list!

[@daymare0]

You are genuinely insane, awesome work! (I haven't watched it yet)

[@PsRohrbaugh]

A sponsor too? HECK YES!

[@qweeesh]

This video is great! I'm not even done with it but it's my favorite video on all of KZbin (maybe even the whole internet)

[@ventispore]

We don't accept accordion hate! (10/10 video, see you next year)

[@froggymint1]

RAAAA

[@wtvabro]

I love how the “city bad, small village good” sentiment is shared by both North Korea and Hallmark movies

[@kazakukog]

lmaoooooo

[@JukaDominator]

And by me

[@rodneysmith873]

​@@JukaDominator same

[@KH0LRA]

And instead with breaking up with your awful boyfriend from the city, its breaking up your hopes to go to the city which is made to look awful

[@MeanBeanComedy]

Yeah, cities suck.

[@foamsparadise2011]

nothing is better than finding out a youtuber you thought left the platform was working on a 5 hour long giga-video

[@Eye_Of_Odin978]

Wendigoon was actually telling people on Twitter like 4 months ago that Paper Will wasn't gone or anything, he was just working on a super long video. Turns out that Wendigoon is always right, as usual.

[@Scutezo]

I thought munecat was gone but she was making a 3 hour long vid on evo psych

[@Doll6464]

Not being ironic here, but im actually surprised you were able to put this together so quickly. 18 months to completely educate yourself on an entire country's history of entertainment AND chronicle it in a cohesive manner is INSANE! Outstanding job, I hope you're proud of your work!

[@AidanPatko]

When you put it that way, he made it look easy. Majorly impressive.

[@_iyakin]

and to think that P.W. had 9hrs of footage/content but he managed to trim it down to 5hrs 😭‼️ major respect

[@MrNeroCat]

I am sure Paper Will just got inspired by the example of the Glorious Leader

[@YourLocalPlushAddict]

True☕🗿

[@lindseyclair921]

I’ve been waiting for this project for so long. Then when I saw it was out and saw the RUNTIME I felt the same way!!!!!!! This is more than twice as long as apocalypse now, and just the filming for that took 16 months.

[@mlisaj1111]

To be fair to “Whistle” -even a bunch of Hollywood movies in the 80s loved the trope of “if a girl seems reluctant or says no when you ask her out, just keep at it and borderline stalk her, and she will eventually realize she loves you.” It’s…not good dating advice.

[@DewyRueskie-sl7nk]

No Please? No Please? No Please? No Please? No Please? No Please? No Please? No Please? I like your persistence

[@Wendigoon]

The only KZbinr that makes the year-long wait pay off. Incredible video

[@unofficialdoor3799]

Absolutely agree, I can't believe how much effort went into this

[@DoctorBones1]

hello wendigoon!

[@blakenewton180]

Wasn’t expecting wendigoon here

[@Acedog11]

@@blakenewton180 (Check the credits) I also technically got to work w/ Will because of Wendigoon giving him a shoutout a while ago lol, long story.

[@captainpoptarts]

You know it's good when your favorite youtubers are also in the comments/helped with the video.

[@Kolbatsu]

At the end of the day, N.Koreans are still people. People who live lives, people who suffer, people who create, people who can laugh, people who are talented and have ingenuity. And that people aren't their government. Good vid.

[@_iyakin]

I really appreciate that Paper Will never failed to show respect to the N. Koreans. If anything, learning about the history behind their entertainment made me think about the struggles they've been. It would be nice if one day North Koreans can tell the world their own stories from their own perspectives with no restrictions, political and otherwise.

[@youbetyourwrasse]

Of course my friend. Anyone who thinks otherwise, hasn't thought things through adequately. Hasn't gazed into the Abyss at the Center of their Soul. But eye sea folks wishing for Truth over all other things .. and we soon will understand that we really ARE all on the same side. It is thyme for Dogma to run away from home.

[@mr_ozio]

It's so rare nowadays to meet someone who shares this thought...

[@KizzMyAbs]

Yup. Sad tho how most don’t even realize how much better the rest is the worlds doing

[@RT-qd8yl]

@@KizzMyAbs How are they to know? Watch 5 hours of KCTV some time.

[@rattlinbones1508]

I have a theory about all the ABBA music; Sweden was actually one of the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with North Korea (and actually maintains an embassy in Pyongyang to this day), so when you joked about them thinking ABBA was the only music westerners listen to, swedish people were the only ones people consistently interacted with in government so maybe that's not so far from the truth!

[@infernoflash]

ABBAs songs were also very a-political, great for a country who hates all politics except their own.

[@ThatSockmonkey]

NK never did pay for that fleet of Volvo's...

[@christianjamesmejia8623]

another alt theory is that ABBA is also popular in the Eastern Bloc(their music was censor-friendly) so their records became easily accessible to North Koreans

[@bispsmith9236]

I was gonna add about the Volvos. IIRC that really damaged diplomacy between the nations. I wonder how they view each other now.

[@fasted8468]

Hmmm

[@matthewhale2531]

This was an informal PhD thesis and I devoured every second of it. It took me 4 days to get through it but it was my guilty pleasure every evening. Thank you very much for all the work you put into it!

[@onzeo2919]

i need the 9 hour "no stuff cut out" version so bad please go on 37 more tangents

[@PinnePon]

Frrr

[@PinnePon]

I just want to listen to him yap

[@ki3657]

Same!

[@youbetyourwrasse]

You mean the *90 hour* "no stuff cut out" version with 37 more Tangents? Heheeheh. Did you know that if you ask Random Persons a Prime Number between 1 and 100, they choose 37 more than ANY other number? :D

[@wasdaslan68419]

@@youbetyourwrasse thats rly cool :DDDDDdddddddD

[@EzaleaGraves]

Kim Jung Il: Why doesn't anyone internationally like my movies? The movies: Oh boy, I sure am glad that Kim Il Sung saved us from the evil people in the rest of the world.

[@KOTEBANAROT]

I mean, American action movies are very often about an american totally destorying barbarians alien hordes, but I do agree Kim Fam was a bit too on the nose about it. And also their action isnt fun to watch. But yeah.

[@Polit_Burro]

LOL Allthe Shitmericans can produce is capeshit. That's not selling much these days. Your failed state continues to fail, and your entertainment industry is every bit as much of a bombastic joke as that of NKorea. Red Dawn is about the best that American "culture" can produce, and it's dogshit.

[@FengBaoYolotli]

@@KOTEBANAROTtool

[@FengBaoYolotli]

He did though

[@GhostTrueCapitalist]

@@FengBaoYolotli Cap bot

[@thestateofdelaware8057]

It’s such a shame paper will disappeared an hour after this came out, I can’t believe he vanished after being summoned to a North Korean embassy to be awarded a golden medal, we’ll find you Will!

[@thestateofdelaware8057]

Real talk great video will, it was worth the wait

[@dededenova4098]

wew... uh... so I didn't know what socialism was... if capitalism bad, communism bad, and socialism bad... tf do we do ._.

[@funeraljoint]

@@dededenova4098that’s the point we’re screwed x

[@PaperWill]

Dear old fellow friends...

[@SugarbirdyOvO]

​@@dededenova4098 The systems that birthed those ways of living are pretty corrupt. There's probably a better 'ism' out there somewhere, it's probably just drowned out by money-hungry high-powered folks influencing things. Maybe things'll be better in the future, though.

[@Ṯaxəṣ]

This made me see North Korea in a whole new light. These are people, humans, they have emotions, passions, love, lives, They aren't robots. Kim maybe cruel, but the people aren't. The amount of dedication and effort put into this video is insane. Truly one of the greatest I have EVER seen.

[@ZaGorudan]

What really strikes me about North Korea's films is how even newer movies don't look new. They're still shooting on what appears to be film, can't tell if it's 16mm or the more expensive 35mm, and whatever surviving footage of them hasn't been remastered at all. Movies from the 60s look the same as ones from the early 2000's, from the fashion (period pieces aside) to the sets to their preservation. Very unique phenomenon, seeing cultural stagnation caught on film over the course of several decades.

[@NekoRoboFunDumpster]

Yeah

[@Facerip]

As a Swedish person, i must say: ABBA IS IMMORTAL, TIMELESS MUSIC AND FITS ANY OCCASION

[@alfiewilson5482]

AS A HALF SWEDISH PERSON I VERY MUCH AGREE. IT IS THE ONE THING ABOUT THE DPRK I LIKE

[@brandon9172]

As a 1/8th "Swedish" in America, I agree.

[@scrittle]

AGGA is better

[@user-qv2mc3dw5o]

As a person with no Swedish roots whatsoever I must say: yea i agree

[@teddyfurstman1997]

I’m an ABBA Stan too. I’m from New York.

[@wendypix16]

Thanks for having me on as a translator! This was a really fascinating topic for me, since I didn't get to learn a lot about NK growing up (even as a South Korean). Major kudos to you for working on this massive project :>

[@PsRohrbaugh]

Thank you for your work on this amazing project!

[@rebeccasebastian8407]

People like you making things like this leave me feeling assured that A.I. has a looooong way to go in order to gain my attention over a creative fellow human's work. The comedic style presented throughout is marvelous and appreciated 😊

[@akira13003]

Before the us can defeat us guess so

[@Hyperwing4678]

I absolutely love how some dude called Funky goes to North Korea and basically does School of Rock. Like, literally, man goes to teach rock music to a group of students, already talented in classical, bonds with them over music, then gets them to write their own rock song.

[@toasterkolin9951]

Not to mention, the song itself literally rocks.

[@lou-cidmire3065]

No ya not hardcooore! Unless ya live hardcooore! 🎸

[@rserserserse]

KZbin video essays are getting so long, I swear in 2027 we're gonna have like a day long video from Paper Will. I'm not complaining I'm here for it

[@leelubell9080]

Quinton Reviews put out a 38 hour video about Beverly Hilbillies for April fools day, but unfortunately it was copyright struck and taken down

[@ronbertguy]

That's the release year for his next video: "A condensed 25 hour chronicle of Chinese media."

[@fisa5964]

quinton reviews has one over 30 hours but it got copyright striked. u can still watch but u have join his channel

[@fredohonius]

@@leelubell9080 that soyboy beta cuck? who would watch that anyways

[@KirkHermary]

It doesn't take more than 5 hours to make a point or explain something.

[@NorthKoreaUncovered]

It was a pleasure working with you Will. Glad to see this finally release!

[@strawberrykun6136]

You're doing gods work by archiving all of that media heritage!!

[@ExperimentIV]

i need to know more about ABBA in the DPRK immediately

[@zawzawaung6789]

I've been a student of Korean for 45 years. This is the very best overview of NK media I've yet to see.

[@masseynagyhusseini6147]

what do you exactly mean by student of 45 years?

[@zawzawaung6789]

@@masseynagyhusseini6147 I've studied Korean since I was 17 years old. 4 years full time at the university level, the rest in the field. Nobody I know of who is honest ever says he's mastered a foreign language and can stop studying.

[@molochnyyvolk2688]

This is just my own theory, but I think a big part of the reason why early DPRK animation featured so many antisemetic tropes is because the animators were taught in Czechoslovakia. At the time antisemitism in the eastern block was still pretty common in the casual-racism sort of way, so I imagine the animators were taught to portray villains with anti Semitic tropes and just didn’t know / care how offensive it was. It doesn’t help that the Korean Peninsula never really had a massive Jewish presence so there wasn’t anyone to inform the animators of this offence

[@PaperWill]

That's a really interesting theory, actually. I can't speak on it with any authority, but I'm going to send this question along to a couple of authors I was talking with and get their input. Thanks!

[@moss.in.hiding]

based on what I know about soviet media (both of my parents are jews from the ussr, and though i was born and raised in the states i only spoke russian until i went to school, so i solidly grew up on russian and soviet media), that's probably a really solid guess. There's a ridiculous amount of completely normalized antisemitism in soviet/post-soviet slavic media. Plus soviet communism ties jews and capitalism pretty closely together

[@AndImsomelady]

If you want something amazing, I really recommend looking at Czechoslovakian movie posters for American movies. They are incredible. Most of them look like someone told them about the trailer and then they were tasked with creating the poster.

[@molochnyyvolk2688]

@@PaperWill May I suggest reaching out to Jewish KZbinr Sam Aranow? He does a serious on Jewish history from the stone Age forward and he might be of assistance!

[@pola6794]

@@AndImsomelady In general, many places in the Eastern Bloc didn't use the regular posters, like they did in the West, the individual cinemas could have different posters based on the artists they contracted. The history of poster as art and activism in Eastern Europe is fascinating in general thanks to the complex relations between propaganda and poster artists.

[@Akursedtime]

I love the ending with the North Korean kids learning rock music and even showing real smiles. Without the propaganda, these kids are still kids. They dream and want things like any other. Their is so much underlying potential within their restricted livelihood. It really makes you wish North Korean would be freed from this dictatorship and all the potential the people have flourishes and shines internationally. It's a pipe dream and unlikely will ever happen in this lifetime. But it's nice to see the small amounts of humanity that does exist.

[@KOTEBANAROT]

But muh juche

[@mynamesnotshanekid813]

This is sadly an impossibility under the US embargo constant suppression of trade that ultimately hurts the civilians and reinforces the current dictatorships's legitimacy as the "only bulwark against the monster that's starving us."

[@SiRenfield]

Honestly I gotta track down the whole thing of that. Like I was not expecting North Korean School of Rock but it looks like a fascinating watch

[@michaelf.4290]

Oh poor North Koreans 🙄 Learn about the country about its truths and flaws rather then sensationalist media telling you about some boogey man country.

[@AC_RDR2_Q]

communism is disgusting

[@Acedog11]

It was a wonder working on this video. o7 to the team.

[@PsRohrbaugh]

Thanks for your efforts!

[@DJG_Studios]

Can someone explain o7 please?

[@PsRohrbaugh]

​@@DJG_Studios it's a text emoji for salute. Sign of respect.

[@DJG_Studios]

@@PsRohrbaugh oh thank you, that makes sense.

[@cailindubh]

⁠ o7 /[] / \

[@FlameEmber]

This was so thorough! You did great justice to the historical and cultural backgrounds behind everything. I was left in awe at how well you covered every detail. Moreover, the hours genuinely slipped away. Your editing and personality were incredibly addictive to keep watching. I loved your touches of humor and lightness throughout what's often a really heavy moments, you kept it easy to follow through and laugh along the way as you pointed out all the absurdities. What a masterpiece!!

[@miriame.3475]

I should have cleaned my house today and should have done the laundry. I watched this instead and ordered pizza. What a great video. You are the hero we don't deserve.

[@caittails]

This absolutely did not feel like 5 hours, I was so engaged the whole time. I really appreciate how you managed to highlight the reality of the average people’s lives rather than swinging entirely negative or naively positive. ❤

[@shytendeakatamanoir9740]

Yeah, I wanted to get out because it's getting really late here, but I couldn't stop

[@chubbydinosaur9148]

The nuance was perfection. I love people who can admit/say that they liked something that sucks. I personally like the architecture the austrian mustache man's followers came up with. It's so huge and bombastic! Like that new capital city Germania they had planned was just 🤯 but I still hate everything about mustache man and his following. Gotta love me some grey opinion

[@20chocsaday]

Must listen to this again. I fell asleep a couple of times.

[@Colddirector]

@@chubbydinosaur9148 I actually kind of like soviet-style brutalist architecture. It has a neat, functional look to it. I don't think I'd want to live in a city *full* of it, but having a few buildings here and there in that style would be a nice change from the glass and steel.

[@PsRohrbaugh]

As a long time supporter of @PaperWill, I implore you to support him too. Become a KZbin member. Go to www.patreon.com/paperwill - or support this episode's sponsor ground.news/paper and sign up. Will does this mostly by himself, with a dedicated team of volunteers helping him out (research, content review). He does this because he loves creating art (content). Not for financial reasons. If you enjoy his videos, he needs your support. If you can't give money, share the video with a friend. I believe @PaperWill is one of the most insightful creators out there, and believe we all need to help ensure he can continue doing what he's great at. Imagine what $1 a month X 3 million views would enable our guy to do. Even 1% would be life changing.

[@-io.oi-]

100 dollars is actually crazy???

[@TalpaTulpa]

@@-io.oi-it’s not crazy, it’s 100 dollars. That can’t even buy a used i pad anymore

[@HummingLantern27]

I love how you actually cite your sources, and how you don't villainize NK citizens. It's nice to see people from hostile nations being treated as people (warts and all) and not some ambiguous source of pure evil. I'm seeing a lot of the later these days, particularly with Russians.

[@ukeman1143]

No joke, this video un-tiktoked my brain and made me enjoy these extra long form, documentary style, KZbin videos again. Thank you paper will and everyone who helped make this project happen! 🎉

[@hyperturbotechnomike]

I can recommend not using TikTok, IG, Twitter and Yt shorts. I live like this and feel very happy.

[@gem9535]

@@hyperturbotechnomike I only watch the shorts from my subscriptions, and I unsub from anything that I don't feel is productive in some way.

[@edisonlima4647]

Loved this video! Now give Knowing Better a check. His video on slavery was an amazing documentary a couple hours long.

[@ukeman1143]

@@edisonlima4647 will check it out!

[@DiamondKingStudios]

@@edisonlima4647Man is generally consistent in good content.

[@willofscott]

Your seriously talented. I like creators who aren’t afraid to dive deep, and evade the temptation of quick shallow minimally educating snap shots made for short attention spans. Also the dedication and patience of making and finishing a final product takes a lot of fortitude. Bravo. If it’s long, let the consumer choose to watch it in sections or devour it in one feast, let the consumer decide, which you do, thanks for that. Plus your commentary and humor is priceless and very tasteful. I wish you massive success, keep it up, I’ll keep looking for more releases. Take care and be well.

[@PaperWill]

That's very generous, fellow Will! Thank you. And that's exactly my whole attitude. People say I should make the video into 4-5 parts, but I feel like one video lets the viewer choose to watch in chunks or blast through the whole thing. Next video's on its way...sometime lol

[@jonleibow3604]

Agreed, his seriously talented!

[@fwsearra.7544]

@@PaperWillyessss I love that it’s long I come to this video when I’m eating food and need a video or just bored😂

[@theaccountant5846]

​@@PaperWillI just found this channel after finding streeter sweeper first, and I feel like I only found streeter sweeper because you promoted him to your audience, so thank you very much for that. He has an amazing channel, and you do as well.

[@fluffcake]

Being a director on the rocks and then kidnapped by a dictator and then told “Make some cool movies for me” must be something out of a bad dream. It sucks that it wasn’t

[@socialhenshin6039]

Except that wasn't what happened. The director and his wife went there willingly, and then decided to "escape" and create this whole story about being kidnapped for attention. There's no evidence they were kidnapped other than their anecdotes, and there's no evidence of them being on a short leash so to speak during their time in the country. They left the country multiple times before they "escaped." It was just a director who went there with his wife for work, and when they left they decided to make it into this big sensational story.

[@saucevc8353]

@@socialhenshin6039They went to Hong Kong and were taken to NK, they never went to NK willingly. What is your evidence?

[@albiewitz2686]

​@@saucevc8353uhh maybe the side making the extraordinary claims need to provide evidence

[@Malkmusianful]

@@socialhenshin6039 of course you're a tankie

[@socialhenshin6039]

@@saucevc8353 The dozens of dozens of pictures of them inside and outside the dprk showing no signs of distress, a complete lack of evidence they were ever held anywhere against their will, and the monetary compensation they got for the job they were doing. The burden of proof is on THEM to show they were actually kidnapped, and all they ever presented was testimony.

[@mrECisME]

Thanks, look forward to the next video.

[@sunnyisfictional]

OH MY GOD ITS FINALLY OUT IM GONNA FINISH A WHOLE CROCHET PROJECT TO THIS edit: guysss i've been trying to reply to your comments but i think they keep getting shadowbanned im sorry :( its so awesome to hear about all the things youre making!! im so glad we can all bond over this, its super wholesome. i'm making a skirt for my upcoming graduation from fashion school :)

[@totallyarealdoctor6498]

I didn't see how long it was until I saw your comment and yeah, definitely have the time xD

[@joy411ful]

Me too 🤭! What are you making?? I’m making a kimono!

[@missravenmartelli870]

Lmao same

[@yaboidawg558]

Same

[@catastrophicfailure2745]

SAME BUT WITH MY REN FAIRE COSTUME! update: i ended up making a gym bag instead lol

[@PsRohrbaugh]

Sorry I can't do larger superchats, but the surprise release caught me off guard. It's been an honor helping you through your content creation journey, and I'm so excited to see the culmination of it all.

[@PsRohrbaugh]

For those who don't know, I bought Paper-Will a new laptop when his died during the creation of "dark side of kid's TV". I've supported him in other ways since then. I'm not trying to take any of the credit - I just want to support talented people when I can. You should do the same if you're able. Will's on Patreon and KZbin memberships.

[@ToreyBurksSr]

@@PsRohrbaugh that's awesome of you, supporting in a VERY impactful way. I certainly appreciate it as a long time fan.

[@dildonius]

​@@PsRohrbaughHow dare you try to take credit for Paper William's hard work! >:(

[@algepaca]

Oh yes I remember that!! Thank you for supporting Paper Will!

[@resident-one1533]

Yet I don't see any answer to your superchat...?

[@indoorin]

This should qualify as a PhD dissertation

[@Luke-we9gj]

Hell, as an essay, it probably matches the length requirements.

[@tiffany_greeneyes4901]

If it’s peer reviewed, I agree

[@Bonebrothsoup]

fr. this is like documentary level of research

[@biseragjurovska1998]

Agreed

[@fmphotooffice5513]

He can pay a pro to organize his source material according to the accredited institution's requirements, etc. His undergrad and any grad work needs documentation, etc. It's a chore but doable. This stuff is fantastic! New sub!

[@plebisMaximus]

Took me 2 months to get through this monster of a video, but it was well worth every second working on it, man. It really helped me understand North Korea far better, as well as finally see it as a nation and not the global threat the western media I'm used to tends to portray them as. Thank you for making it.

[@cringe969]

This is going straight into the "Hyperfixation long form videos" playlist

[@Le0mas]

I know this is probably a joke, but gimme that!

[@weirdnerdygoat]

If you genuinely have a playlist like that gimme, i am starved for more /nf /lh (basically seconding the other commenter)

[@Pixelshroomies]

Please link that playlist lol

[@kabooki22]

Just like every other Paper Will video

[@ItsNotCiara]

if you actually have this please link 😭😭😭

[@jayzepickle6637]

I have been waiting for this to come out since Summer 2022, it is now spring 2024 and I feel lowkey emotional watching it now. Thank you for putting so much effort into this, paper will.

[@PaperWill]

I’m embarrassed and proud to say I cried when this rendered for the final time.

[@jayzepickle6637]

​@@PaperWillI would too! Also I appreciate how much you kept us up to date with the video, the research streams were super fun! But now that it's out get some rest, king. 😌

[@coreofkatya]

It feels like i’ve become a whole different person 😭😭

[@squeaksquawk4255]

@@PaperWill You completed a very large, demanding project you put a lot of effort and emotional investment into. Nothing wrong with crying there.

[@marioposada8880]

I’m 26 and not very old but I’ve got to say this is by far the best KZbin video I’ve ever seen. No hyperbole, it’s funny, empathetic and informative. You hooked me for 5hrs of my day, which for me is uncommon I’m not huge into the long form video essay stuff. Bravo this was captivating and beautifully done

[@moiseskerschener2634]

26 is very old

[@nyxldx]

​@@moiseskerschener2634 it's literally 8 years after being officially an adult 💀 be serious

[@abvvi3319]

I agree, this is an extremely well done video essay. As well as staying considerate of the group of people he was talking about while also being able to say negative things about their country’s entertainment culture.

[@f1mbultyr]

@@moiseskerschener2634 96 is very old. 26 is basically still a child.

[@lenibeni7421]

@@moiseskerschener2634yeah, to you, a 10 year old.

[@savannahhizer2341]

Okay I'm 3 hours in and this is the most educational, entertaining, and engaging documentary I've seen maybe ever? I'm learning a LOT and I'm marvelling at how gigantic your computer folders must be with all the individual clips of DPRC media clips you use. And they're used to great effect! Really entertaining content, a new favorite. Thank you 🙏

[@nanatoldo]

as someone who loves learning about a country’s history and also takes too long doing her gel nails, this was the perfect video for me

[@Cody-r7r]

Ew go watch make up videos or something stimky

[@ericasrainbow71]

I love learning about countries/nations from around the world and each of their histories. But, I don’t do nails, not even gel nails. But I love to crochet, knit, and draw (and also hang around on social media). 😁

[@RealElongatedMuskrat]

💅✨gaslight gatekeep gel nails

[@sadietaylorsversion13]

ME TOO! i also got halfway through a yarn embroidery project while watching!

[@RealElongatedMuskrat]

@@sadietaylorsversion13 I recently got into incorporating beading into my embroidery projects, sooo satisfying

[@PsRohrbaugh]

52:30 - 4.26 studios. NOW I get the release date! Wow @PaperWill that's really impressive.

[@PaperWill]

SOMEONE GOT IT!!!

[@izenheimreborn6390]

I'm very ashamed to say I forgot you and what you were doing. I almost never do anything with any video over 30 minutes, but this one has made me dedicate my entire evening to this

[@naivenostalgia]

I went to school for Korean historical/cultural/sociological studies & graduated with my BA 10 years ago. Part of that degree was earned from Yonsei University in Seoul. This video has taught me more about North Korea than all of those courses combined. Thank you so much for all of the time & effort you put into this project. I have no idea how you managed to keep track of every piece of media & history, let alone present everything coherently & in order. Well done.🎉

[@randommodnar7141]

I mean South Korea was still teaching that the founder of North Korea was a conman who killed the real Kim Il Sung and took his identity until like 20 years ago lol. Just because South Koreans are right next to the North doesn't mean they don't have a distorted view of it.

[@chrisr4023]

Schools/Colleges/Universities are a bad place to learn Objective history, especially the more controversial ones. They are always diluted/modified carefully to fit the National narrative. Im not saying they are wrong, but important things are always left out intentionally.

[@oo4758]

This is so anti-education it hurts. Yikes. ​@@chrisr4023

[@perkysnood]

The kids who obviously loved playing music were so cute and the teens creating their own rock song was so moving. Obviously, there's so much going on in N. Korea but seeing these glimpses of real happiness there is moving.

[@mushyroom9569]

Yeah, I hear being a child actor is great. They almost never grow up to be basket cases.

[@perkysnood]

@@mushyroom9569 the kids I commented on were not actors. Your sarcastic reply was unnecessary

[@mushyroom9569]

@@perkysnood They are representing North Korea in an extremely diplomatically significant international event, but you don’t think they’re actors? Okay.

[@perkysnood]

@@mushyroom9569 You're trying to start some debate/argument on a comment that saw the rare glimpse of humanization of people who are forced to live in that country. Go bother someone else.

[@mushyroom9569]

@@perkysnood We BOTH watched a five-hour video where it was demonstrated and explicitly stated that every form of entertainment’s purpose is propaganda. There is nothing to debate.

[@zoinksscoob9674]

I’ve never been one for long videos but this had me hooked from beginning to end on a topic I’ve never even considered. The humanization of the North Korean people this video gives makes their situation even more tragic now in my eyes, The creative potential of an entire culture crushed under the greed and delusions of a single family. I must say this may be the best KZbin video I’ve seen this year, Thank you sir for entertaining and educating a very bored gas station employee at work.

[@cceres]

To be honest, I hope the AI thing doesn't come back. I like the tangents and so forth, and was hoping to hear them. Media is so intertwined with every other facet of society that they feed back into each other. So many of us understand North Korea so little, and I would have wanted to hear everything you found interesting.

[@wurstbrat.]

Yeah I wanted the tangents. Hopefully they'll be in another video. The AI thing was annoying, but I loved the rest.

[@kwisowofer9872]

AIven is the real villain here

[@mr.j3rs3y]

@@kwisowofer9872 Facts

[@EzaleaGraves]

On the one hand I agree, on the other hand the video is already 5 and a half hours long, so I I can understand him wanting to have a way to say, "this thread goes a lot deeper than I'm covering, but for now this is all I can talk about"

[@geraldgutsueii3324]

@@EzaleaGraves especially since there was that note saying he initially had 9 hours before editing

[@chelseanortje6112]

Dude, this is easily one of the best videos I've seen all year! Yes, I watched it over the course of a few days but it was amazing. And I went and listened to that song at the end and if brought me to tears. I'll definitely be doing some additional reading and watching on this topic. Thank you for this labour of love.

[@DaniilShmalko-z9y]

Man, that is some phenomenal work! The research, subtle visual jokes based entirely on Korean footages, the deliberate choice of context to highlight. This clearly transcends every bar set by the platform and the medium. You have accomplished academia-worthy colossal classification and probably paved the road for hundreds of researchers to come. That is something to be remembered for. Legend.

[@gundhamtanaka1817]

“ooooh im gunna hop over the dmz if you dont quit it girl” absolutely hilarious

[@greystar321]

Saving the time stamp for later: 5:07:33

[@draculactica]

Currently in awe of how much effort was put into putting all of the presented media into its historical context. Like I've legitimately learned a lot about Korean history from this

[@meowtherainbowx4163]

Yeah, it's amazing what a country's propaganda and entertainment can say about its history, especially when you dive deep into the surrounding stories like Will has. You can even tell that he's struggling to sum it up quickly. It goes so deep!

[@FaeSparrow]

I wanted to have this video on in the background while painting, but it was so interesting, I actually paid attention while watching the whole thing. Incredible work!

[@twotothehalf3725]

It is 7 hours later, and I'm posting a second comment for engagement, cos I've no words to convey how enjoyable and informative this video it. Congratulations to ya, Will, for getting through the herculean task researching and making this video. Also, cheers for the unapologetically empathetic presentation of ordinary North Korean people. It's easy to understand on an intellectual level that the people trapped within the borders of the hermit kingdom are no different than you and I, but this video manages to make that feeling at points heartbreakingly visceral. Just god-tier storytelling.

[@bmeht]

This is stupidly good. I can't believe you managed to keep a 5 and a half hour video so consistently engaging, informational, and funny. I know this was an insane amount of time and effort and I hope you're as proud of it as you should be. Thank you!

[@elkowasaki]

fr fr. I even enjoyed the sponsorship piece of the video lmao

[@DatBoi-ee9dn]

This is genuinely insane timing considering that one of the trending audios on tiktok right now is a North Korean banger of a propaganda song

[@Maggie_mccann]

what song?

[@katiemorison7969]

Yeah I am now also curious. The National Anthem is a banger as is

[@elenak4992]

Might be Chollima On The Wing? It's on Spotify and I unironically listen to it.

[@leuk2389]

@@Maggie_mccann I think its called "Friendly father"

[@liamannegarner8083]

I put Chollima On The Wing and Potato Pride on for motivation while cleaning the house. ^^ (In general, songs from any totalitarian regime are good at making you go "ooh, I'm so tired but I have to work, song please let me absorb motivation from you." But the Korean bands are on a whole other level of that. Also, I went to high school in a Korean neighborhood, so it just sounds like the soap opera themes in the restaurants I did my calc homework in while eating dolsot bibimbap in the snowstorm. Good times.)

[@pjf674]

This is one of the most interesting, well researched, and thorough things I've ever watched. Incredible. New supporter right here bro.

[@andrewrice1174]

Whats wild to me is how your videos sound like one long conversation, without any cuts. That keeps me engaged for hours

[@13kev98]

Love that you're back and digging the short vids. My attention span can only handle so much

[@TheRandomeer]

The fact that I've fallen back into a hyperfixation of the DPRK in the last few days, this video is a godsend and major coincidence. You've gone above and beyond with this piece of work, and earned a new subscriber. Now to go back and watch your other videos!

[@SleepyShroomie64]

This video is so amazing. I put it on in the background every once in a while. I am on my vacation right now, the drive was a long one so I just rewatched this. I’m excited for your future videoes that I can. Just listen too and just be comfortable with. You have a very soothing voice. I’m excited for your next video ❤❤❤❤❤

[@Savvy_Tsalagi]

As an American living in South Korea who is also a history nerd, I’ve been waiting for this for 18 months. Thank you for your service🫡

[@kevinmelendez9820]

We're so back

[@PhIcicle]

to the future

[@dessydessy3625]

Splatoon

[@GetOwnedInc]

The fact that he didn't like this comment means see ya next year.

[@laandormer]

551 (and counting) farmers watch paper will.... Who'd a thunk it.

[@Ali_zhangHAO]

omg a 5h video?! this was definitely was worth the LONG wait

[@jamiemiller8678]

My dude, I just found this video, never heard of you before, and I'm so freaking impressed with what you're capable of. This is so informative and well researched while being entertaining as hell. You were able to tell the history of the country almost as an aside and I'm unintentionally watching the whole thing in one shot. Subscriber well earned my friend!

[@milipuga]

i watched this whole video in one sitting while doing my makeup and painting my nails and never once was i bored or uninterested... it felt like a good 1 hour and some change documentary. it's kinda the best youtube video i've ever seen. thank you so much for this! it fed my hyperfixation a little too well

[@livliveart]

That ending with the high school kids learning how to rock (and absolutely slaying) made me emotional fr. I truly hope those kids manage to keep that

[@thywardenproductions]

me too it was beautifully written.

[@ianporter2446]

One through line that is so strong in all DPRK media is that the second you give a person freedom to create, they begin questioning the reality of the world they live in. And the harsher that world, the quicker and stronger the question (marks) come.

[@squashlord371]

Watched this kind of on whim while at work and man, this was such a rewarding watch! You're right about the entertainment humanising them - but also the very end becoming a real life School of Rock situation is wild. I love it!

[@superdupertrousers]

Funky's really living out the plot of School of Rock in real life 😩 no joke it seems you accidentally stumbled upon one of the greatest moments in rock history. The fact that rock music prevails, even in the face of one of the most oppressive regimes in the world, is powerful to say the least. It speaks volumes for the genre and for music as a whole.

[@lingus1382]

Facts, nothing really brings people together like rock music does. I hope someday things change for the people of North Korea and then they’ll take over the entire worlds entertainment industry with their insane skills lmao

[@HeatBoi]

Bro I got to this part of the video and saw this comment, crazy coincidence

[@HundreadD]

I watch an embarrassing amount of KZbin and I can confidently say this might be one of the top 10 original KZbin videos ever uploaded, I’ve never seen or learned from a more watchable 5 and a half hour video

[@clementpoon120]

this should be required viewing for north koreanology

[@stevengill1736]

Good grief, it IS 51/2 hours! Nice job man, cheers...the Koreans are amazing people, both north and south..

[@Av8r-Opr8r]

Paper will. After 3 days of watching I FINALLY finished this. I did not know of your channel. But I’m gonna watch each and every video because HOLY is that some consistent quality. I am in shock that you do not have atleast even a million views. Astounding work, genuinely impressed.

[@PaperWill]

Thanks very much! (Also, be sure to go in reverse order, my earlier stuff is...rough lol)

[@colinjohnson6454]

​@@PaperWill Always is. Gotta learn somehow. Love the video.

[@laurawitham7422]

Took me awhile to finish this video but this is just the perfect mix of geopolitics, history, and entertainment all into one you are very excellent at what you do sir.

[@YoYoDJA]

I LOVE ACCORDIONS!!!! The 120 buttons are for chords 20 columns of 6 rows First row is the major third Second row is the root note Third is the major triad of the root Fourth is minor triad Fifth is the 7th dominant Sixth is the 7th diminished

[@FoolishTobias]

Thanks man. I’ve been neglecting my accordion and I don’t think anyone ever taught me the information about the button categorization. That’s going to make relearning it way easier.

[@williamwolffgang]

I'm here to join your accordion fan club o7

[@sadietaylorsversion13]

my great aunt could play the accordion! shes so good at it too, i haven’t seen her in forever i wonder if she still plays

[@AuFishh]

Big fan of accordion. Goes hard in zydeco/cajun music

[@supermagma]

PLEASE let this get to at least 1 million views, Paper Will deserves it

[@paracelsus407]

I've watched it twice and shared it with everyone I know! Real talk: Let it stay monetized so our boy paper will gets paid.

[@PaperWill]

Good news🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@radioisotopics]

Oh my god. I am genuinely so surprised at how well this video was written and produced, well worth the nearly 2 years of waiting. I never would have thought I would be so interested in North Korean media... even though I had already watched a lot of the livestreams, lmao. Also, hi, I'm the person who sent $100 in a stream after making a bet about whether some people would wave at the end of a movie. Can't believe that is already a year ago, wow.

[@evav.4286]

this is like the best thing i've ever seen on youtube man

[@emilytrost4123]

I couldn't sleep at all last night, and ended up at the gym at 6am. Then the computer lab at 7:30am. Now my dorm, with laundry running and nothing to keep me awake- or so I thought! Time to watch this to help keep me awake for the day! Thank you! Edit: I'd like everyone to know my goals for today are to watch all of Paper Will's videos, do all my laundry, re-match my socks, and drink 96 oz water. Wish me luck soldiers.

[@connorb2112]

Good luck with your goals.

[@kingasprey7229]

Thank you so much for creating this masterpiece! It’s so well researched and it’s definitely among my favorite video essays ever! More than worth the wait, I hope this helps you if only a little

[@velvetvvitch]

Came for the laughs, stayed for the heartfelt cultural deep-dive. Absolutely amazing content. I especially love how humanizing you were throughout.

[@neptune4434]

This video wasn't just a video but a journey that I went through for almost a month watching it when I'm doing little work. Loved it!

[@lulairenoroub3869]

The buttons do harmonic relatives to the notes you hit on the keyboard. So you hit an A on the key side, and the minor 3rd button on the button side, you'll get an A, C, E chord Sure, in that case, you could just play an A minor, but with 1 hand, a lot of chords are out of reach. Plus, it's not like a full 88 keys. By the buttons doing relatives instead of absolutes, you can easily hit way more notes. It's probably more complex than that, I've never played a full accordion, just little ones, but that's what I figured out just by playing it

[@PaperWill]

Sounds like witchcraft to me

[@PsRohrbaugh]

​@@PaperWillall music is witchcraft

[@manwhatdoiputhere]

​@@PsRohrbaugh extra witchcraft

[@Quazarthegreat]

Congrats on finishing this mega project!!

[@denizium.]

5 PLUS HOURS PAPER WILL ??!?!! 🔥🔥🗣🗣💯we are pulling an ALL NIGHTER WITH THIS ONE BOYYSS

[@blabbilizer]

your pfp :skull:

[@cinnamorxll-d7r]

Thanks for the advice on lemons!

[@susannightson4092]

As a Czech person I was going to say that the Czechoslovakian animation was MARVELOUS, but you did so yourself. It makes me happy when Czech (and Slovak) animation and art is recognized. Awesome video so far, though!

[@plushdragonteddy]

this video has been so deeply humanizing. it's not that i never felt bad for the citizens of north korea, but sometimes when all you hear about a people is that their government is bad and they are suffering, it's hard to think of them as individual people. when i try to imagine a north korean person, i usually picture the guides assigned to americans on their trips, or maybe escapees and those hoping to escape, or a group of soldiers. or kim jong un. as heartbreaking as a lot of this is to hear, it's been nice to see a more individualized and human side of things. even if that humanity is often filtered through a propaganda film that doesn't allow its main characters every depth or realism, i'm still thinking about the actors in those roles and how they might be feeling. i'm seeing characters doing kicks in movies filmed during the famine and thinking, "how many takes of that scene did they have to do? how much energy did this man have in him when he wasn't eating well?" i'm thinking of individual people, individual faces. the part at the end with the high school kids was especially great. as a bass player myself, i loved seeing these kids react to rock music, and even just seeing normal north korean teenagers at all. i was caught off guard by the drummer's makeup because so many of these movies had such subtle makeup, but she had dark lipstick on! she's doing just what i did as a teen (although with much better technique than i had, both in makeup and music). it's really, really cool. i guess this giant paragraph has just been my way of saying thank you for bringing all of this to light. i've learned a lot from this video, but i think what will stick with me most is the people. okay, that, and the flaming doves, WHAT THE FUCK MY JAW DROPPED--

[@hallows7568]

The length alone speaks to just how much research and time has gone into this

[@PsRohrbaugh]

So much research: at one point the video was over 8 hours long. Will spent a lot of time trimming it down to the most important bits. He considered multiple videos but didn't think it'd flow well.

[@hallows7568]

@PsRohrbaugh wow I didn't know it was even longer originally.

[@ExtremelyRareDPRKvideos]

Yeah real "research" like skimming through WIkipedia pages and regurgitating talking points from tons of anti-DPRK documentaries available on KZbin.

[@thatcher6923]

@ExtremelyRareDPRKvideos His research was definitely not that, and we know that because he streamed a majority of it

[@TheManinBlack9054]

Brevity is the soul of wit

[@crazydude9884]

Bro, I found you in the comment section of fan made Batman short film and saw a tick next to your name and clicked it, I have no regrets. Awesome work dude, great video.

[@PaperWill]

How awesome was that video??

[@crazydude9884]

I know right!!🤩🤩@@PaperWill

[@yamete_kudastop4942]

​@@crazydude9884alright now im curious. could you guys share the link, please

[@mkennedy9822]

The fact that Ma Yumi was S. Korea's official foreign language academy award entry is chaos.

[@_iyakin]

I'm sorry-- it's WHAT ??? 😭😭

[@PaperWill]

Wait what

[@ornellagreco8800]

Dude you're not just extremely talented but also a LIFESAVER. I had this video's sound in the background during the whole day (lots of work to do) and omg I've been so productive and locked in.

[@psyoptic]

Incredible work

[@PenelopeNaomi]

I'm glad to finally see this from you! Been missing your content and this is a banger to come back to. Great video. If you need anything, you got my discord friend!

[@PenelopeNaomi]

Also, holy crap, I'm still a member for like 2 years. That's actually crazy.

[@Pb0b178]

Congrats on finishing this project! Dropping my support.

[@LukeZalvino]

1 hr in and its breezing by. Don't ever change will. Love your editing and sense of humor. Im sure most fans would watch any length of video so don't feel pressured to make long ones or vice versa

[@TMCdragon]

so there i was, using this video as background noise while doing some work stuff. turns out its very interesting, so once i finish my work stuff, i take a second to watch the video. After a couple minutes, i decided I was pretty hungry and checked to see how much longer the video is so i can go get some food after i finish watching instead of pausing the video. 5 AND A HALF HOURS MY GUY??????? i know you said it took you like 18 months but 5 whole hours???????? i have to plan an entire day for this now. i gotta meal prep and take notes. this is gonna be a whole event.

[@hoarsecorpse]

Me and my best friend have been waiting so long for this moment and you’re really feeding us rn, hold this $2 bro and keep up the good work

[@SKPanda1915]

As a Korean American I salute you for the dedication to watching DPRK media "entertainment." The Korean director who was kidnapped, I think escaped and defected to America...his 1st American movie was Surf Ninjas 😉🤙

[@jukeyard]

Shin Sang-Ok didn't work on Surf Ninjas, but he did seek asylum in America and lived in Los Angeles for some time and worked on a few "3 Ninjas" movies under the name Simon Sheen

[@SKPanda1915]

@@jukeyard yes his production company did the film....the actor Patrick Labyorteaux (one of the robbers) told the story on a podcast breaking down Surf Ninjas.

[@SwolllenGoat]

"I don't care who you are, you cant eat four bags of kimchi on a plane. Your butts gonna explode." Challenge accepted

[@dauwlamon3334]

You're my hero

[@mrapplefritter3117]

No😨

[@philoby_angry_cat9840]

You know you’re gonna die from salt overdoes right?

[@PaperWill]

..has anyone heard back from this guy lol

[@metronicmagician1816]

⁠​⁠@@PaperWilldoesn’t seem so. Well let’s check back in another week

[@taniiboyy]

lol reading the other comments made me feel like my comment were too bland haha, so had to edit it. but for real? the effort you put in, all the work, the editing, writing a script etc etc. this is a masterpiece, really. this was more than just an understanding of north koreas entertainment. the video really brought light to the people living in this country, something that me as a swede even can't start to comprehend. the video was also an important history lesson that made me understand that the north koreans are humans, not just brainwashed robots. this was so much more than just the title of the video. super informative, good script and it was really easy to follow along. just fantastic!! thx mate