At least 50 North Koreans, including several officials from Kim Jong-un's Workers' Party, were publicly executed for watching South Korean soaps this year.
South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) claims that Pyongyang has purged about 10 officials from the dictator's party for watching South Korean soaps, The Independent reports.
The officials who were executed also faced charges of bribery and womanizing and were believed to be close to Kim's executed uncle, Jang Song-thaek.
It is illegal for citizens of North Korea to watch foreign broadcasts and videos. Anyone who breaks the law by smuggling foreign videos or distributing illicit material could be executed for crimes against the state.
"Offenders" have reportedly been sentenced to years in prison camps or hard labour.
