North Korea censors Lee Kang-in's goal, erasing South Korean players from broadcasts

North Korea has once again embarked on erasing 'European' South Korean players. This time, Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain)’s penalty kick goal did not escape censorship.

According to 'News1', North Korea's state broadcaster Korean Central Television (KCTV) aired a recorded broadcast of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Group B match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Atletico Madrid on the 20th (Korea time).

The match between the two teams, which took place on the 16th, ended in a decisive victory for PSG. It was a one-sided match. PSG scored the first goal with a long-range shot from Fabian Ruiz in the 19th minute of the first half. Additionally, Vitinha added another goal with a scoring play after a personal breakthrough in stoppage time, finishing the first half leading 2-0.

Lee Kang-in also experienced the thrill of scoring. He came on as a substitute for Ruiz in the 27th minute of the second half and took a penalty kick during stoppage time when the team was leading 3-0. Lee Kang-in found the net with a shot that completely deceived the goalkeeper. Having scored for the first time in a while, he smiled as he received congratulations from his teammates.

However, North Korean residents could not see Lee Kang-in's goal. This was because KCTV broadcast the footage of Lee Kang-in's goal with a mosaic effect covering it. It is reported that both his jersey number and face were obscured.

Furthermore, KCTV only stated, 'The PSG team defeated the Atletico Madrid team 4-0,' without introducing the goal scorers separately. This is interpreted as part of North Korean authorities' intent to thoroughly erase the existence of South Korean players active on the European stage.

This outrageous censorship measure by North Korea's broadcasts is not the first of its kind. Matches from the Premier League (PL), where South Korean players like Son Heung-min play, cannot be found on North Korean broadcasts either. KCTV typically reports on PL or UEFA Champions League (UCL) matches but excludes games featuring South Korean players like Son Heung-min, Hwang Hee-chan, and Lee Kang-in from their programming.

North Korea's psychological warfare surrounding sports is not a new phenomenon. KCTV covered the Taegukgi with a mosaic during the 2022 Qatar World Cup and referred to Korea as the 'puppet South Korean team' while reporting on the 2024 AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup held last year. During the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, when South Korean media mentioned 'North Korea' or 'North side,' they reacted strongly by insisting on 'Democratic People's Republic of Korea.'

North Korea's erasure of South Korean players is well-known abroad too. In February, the British 'Mirror' reported, 'North Korea's reckless dictator Kim Jong-un has banned North Korean football fans from watching Tottenham matches. In North Korea, it is absolutely impossible to watch a Tottenham match featuring captain Son Heung-min in a timely manner. The same goes for Wolverhampton, where Hwang Hee-chan plays, and Brentford, where Kim Ji-soo plays.'

The Stimson Center, based in Washington, conveyed the state of censorship in North Korea through the '38 North Project.' The Stimson Center explained, 'Matches featuring South Korean players are aired on state-run 'KCTV' only four months after they are held. North Korean television schedules are filled with propaganda. Football broadcasts are one of the few moments that do not send blatant or hidden messages.'

It is also known that North Korea does not comply with copyright at all in this process. According to the 38 North Project report, KCTV aired not only the 2023 PL but also UCL and World Cup matches. Instead, the matches are shortened from 90 minutes to 60 minutes, making copyright infringement almost certain.

Ultimately, this repetitive behavior of North Korean broadcasts aims to thoroughly prevent residents from witnessing the performances of South Korean players who have grown into global stars. Particularly, as South Korean football players’ activities in Europe have become increasingly prominent, it seems that North Korean authorities are intensifying their censorship efforts. This is seen as a means to maintain the regime by blocking residents' access to external information.

[OSEN]