North Korean state television has been broadcasting matches from two major European football leagues, but with a significant omission - games involving South Korean players. This intriguing revelation comes from a study conducted by the Washington-based think tank, the Stimson Center’s 38 North project.
The English Premier League and UEFA Champions League are among the most prestigious football tournaments in Europe. Despite being delayed by several months, these broadcasts have gained considerable popularity among North Korean viewers. However, it appears that matches featuring South Korean players are deliberately left out.
This means that fans in North Korea won't get to see games featuring Son Heung-min, captain of both the South Korean national team and Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. Last year's coverage also excluded Hwang Hee-chan and Wolverhampton Wanderers as well as Kim Ji-soo who plays for Brentford. In terms of Champions League coverage, it remains uncertain whether Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in will be broadcast due to this selective approach.
Sports broadcasting amidst pandemic
During the pandemic when people were spending more time at home, sports became even more important for entertainment purposes. As a result, KCTV had to double its output which led to an extra hour being allocated for sports programming - particularly soccer - a trend that continues today.
However, these football matches are shown an average of four months after they were played; both EPL season and Champions League began in August and September respectively last year.
Preference for Premier Leagues
According to the report by 38 North project co-author Martyn Williams: "Football is one of few moments each day when state TV is not trying to send an overt or underlying message." In 2022 KCTV aired matches from EPL along with Germany’s Bundesliga, Spain’s La Liga France’s Ligue 1, and Italy’s Serie A. However, the following year saw a shift in preference towards the Premier League, FIFA World Cup, and UEFA Champions League.
Interestingly, matches are shortened from 90 minutes to 60 minutes and are aired right before the 5 p.m. news bulletin. The report also noted that only 21 of the Premier League's 380 matches last season were aired with six teams not shown at all.
While North Korean state television has made strides in broadcasting international sports events like European football leagues, its selective approach towards South Korean players raises questions about underlying political motivations. As sports continue to be a significant part of daily programming amidst pandemic restrictions, it remains to be seen how this trend will evolve.
