Leisure under Totalitarian Regimes: A Life Story of a North Korean Adolescent Defector

The objective of this study was to investigate the leisure of an adolescent North Korean defector and how the context of historical and geopolitical events taking place in his country shaped his leisure experiences. Data were obtained using a life history method by employing in-depth interviews and an analysis of his YouTube videos. The findings revealed that extracurricular activities in North Korea were delivered and controlled by the state and geared toward maintaining control of the population. The defector and other adolescents were encouraged to develop a religious-like worship of the Kim dynasty. Under the guise of providing “entertainment,” state-run television and radio engaged in ideological indoctrination. The defector’s life was controlled through censorship, outlawing foreign media content, restrictions on mobility, and suppressing sensuality and physical desires. The defector participated in acts of resistance by watching illegal movies, listening to forbidden music, and making small changes to his appearance.