Blog #2

North Korea's government is strikingly similar to the government in George Orwell's 1984. Both governments have a great amount of power over their people because of censorship. In smaller categories, both governments have control over their people in regards to exercise, media, and regulations. All of these areas of control fall under the more broad category of censorship.

When Winston refers to a mandatory exercise regimen in Orwell's 1984, the reader may think that the reality of the scene is non existent, however, for the citizen's of North Korea, that scene is reality. Both the society in 1984 and North Korea have mandatory exercise regimens. Every morning an "instructress" would appear on the telescreen and lead an exercise routine. On page 37 the instructress says, "We don't all have the privilege of fighting in the front line, but at least we can all keep fit." This statement directly relates to the mindset of the North Korean government. The goal of this control is to keep the community "fit."

One of the more obvious similarities between the novel and North Korea is the idea of media censorship. In both societies, information allowed to reach the people is highly censored. For example, in Korea, the radio is the main form of communication. Because of this, the government is able to regulate and control every aspect. Much like the society in 1984, Korea controls much of the information that reaches the general population. This keeps the government in control. Both the society in 1984 and the Korean government control their people with fear. Winston fears a simple act such as writing: "He dipped the pen into the ink and then faltered for just a second. A tremor had gone through his bowels. To mark the paper was the decisive act..." (7). Writing, and all other forms of media, are either censored or completely abolished. Korea, although not to this level, already controls most of the media. If they can, they may even try to abolish forms of media like in 1984.

Regulations control the people of North Korea and 1984. In North Korea the government regulates the vast majority of goods and services. North Korea regulates everything from wages to media. In 1984, the scene is the same. Although in 1984 the regulations are far more severe (such as the regulation of words), North Korea also regulates much of the citizens lives. They regulate wages, media, schools, food, and much more. In 1984, there are regulations of items such as chocolate and razor blades; only a certain amount are produced and available. At one point in the novel Winston says, "I've been using the same blade for six weeks..." (61). The point of these regulations is to "fool" the public when the society wants to "create" more of these items, and in North Korea, this idea may not be too far off.

Although not as severe, North Korea's control of it's people is very similar to the control of the people in the book. The future of North Korea and it's people may be found in a novel named 1984.