North Korea’s evolving media landscape was revealed, showcasing the use of ChatGPT in universities and mobile phone ownership by one in four residents.
The Korea Media and Communications Commission, Korea Information Society Development Institute, and Hanyang University’s Unification Education Leading University Project hosted the 2025 Inter-Korean Broadcasting and Communications International Conference on Thursday in Seoul’s Seongdong district.
The conference explored, The Future of Inter-Korean Broadcasting and Communication Cooperation in the Digital Transformation Era, through two sessions and a comprehensive discussion.
In the first session, Professor Park Min-joo from the Unification Education Institute presented on North Korea’s Digital Landscape: Current State of Science, Technology, and Mobile Life. She noted that since Kim Jong Un’s rise to power, North Korea has prioritized science and technology policies to build an economic powerhouse. Currently, North Korean universities utilize ChatGPT, facial recognition technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) robots for medical assistance.
Martin Williams, a senior researcher at the U.S. Stimson Center, reported that North Korea has approximately 6.5 to 7 million mobile phone subscribers, with an estimated one in four residents owning a device. He added that the variety of smartphones sold in North Korea has recently doubled, with new brands entering the market.
The second session focused on North Korea’s Changing Media: Drama and Broadcasting Technology. A subsequent comprehensive discussion brought together experts from academia and industry to share insights on Policy Directions for Inter-Korean Exchange in Broadcasting and Communications.
The Korea Media and Communications Commission stated that they plan to continually explore ways to promote inter-Korean exchange and cooperation in broadcasting and communications, considering the insights gained from this conference and the ongoing digital transformation.