The emergence of South Korean pop culture such as the eminence of BTS and Netflix series “Squid Game” has become a global phenomenon. In contrast, little is known about the form and contents of North Korean contemporary culture both to the world and the South Korean audience. In this commentary, Hong Jae-bum, Professor in the Department of Korean Language and Literature at Konkuk University, explains the lack of knowledge on North Korean culture in the South Korean society and advocates for the pursuit of mutual cultural opening of both Koreas. He claims that gradually opening the gates as South Korea did with Japanese pop culture and art in the past is a realistic approach in resolving conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

Prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union, an extensive number of cultural exchange visits were made between the Soviet Union and North Korea in various fields including the arts. Mutual visits paid by delegates of the respective countries served as an opportunity to introduce cultural techniques and receive training by experts of the other country. In this Research Review, Lee Byong-Jo, Professor at Al-Farabi (Kazakh) National University, explains the exchange of arts between the two countries. While most of them have been made with the intentions of praising the North Korean regime, findings show that there have been exchanges in folk music as well. In addition, research shows that Koryoin artists in Central Asia led cultural exchange between two countries. According to articles on the Lenin Gichi, exchange visits started with the founding of North Korea and persisted until the 1960s. Art groups reflected the sorrow of the Koryoin community, encouraged them to preserve their national identity, and contributed to the development of the arts in both countries.