"Almost Got Caught for a Finger Gesture"... North Korean MZ Generation Enthralled by the 'Korean-Style Finger Heart'

From the 'Jangmadang Generation' to the 'Korean Wave Generation'
Finger Heart Fad Spreads Beyond Traceability

As North Korean authorities intensify efforts to block the influx of foreign culture, even the popular "finger heart" gesture among teenagers has now become a target of official crackdown.

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The Korean Wave Reaches the Fingertips of North Korean Youth

According to Daily NK on the 3rd, at a high school (upper middle school) in Kaechon, South Pyongan Province, a large number of students were recently caught making and exchanging small hearts with their fingers during class or group gymnastics sessions.

Due to the influence of the Korean Wave, the clothing of Pyongyang citizens has become more sophisticated compared to the past. Photo by Daily NK Pyongyang Joint Press Corps

The so-called "Korean finger heart," made by crossing the thumb and index finger, has spread worldwide along with the Korean Wave, but remains strictly prohibited in North Korea. School authorities questioned students about where they had learned the gesture. However, as it had already become deeply ingrained among peer groups, it was reportedly impossible to identify the original source.

Ultimately, the school’s Youth League organization stepped in and labeled the behavior as an "anti-socialist act." The students who were caught had to write written reflections, pledging to remain vigilant against behaviors that might undermine "our way of life." The Youth League is one of the "outer organizations" that promote the ideology of the North Korean authorities and is not an official governing body in charge of state affairs.

Embedded in Everyday Life Despite Official Surveillance

According to Daily NK, North Korea has used the Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Act and other measures to crack down on the use of South Korean slang, styles of dress, and hairstyles. Through various organizations and propaganda outlets, the authorities have consistently provided ideological education urging young people to align not just their language, but also their clothing and behaviors with the "our style" principles.

North Korean students at Pyongyang Changjon Primary School are attending classes. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

In 2021, Daily NK reported that "following food shortages and a loosening of the social system in the late 1990s, mass defections of residents and relatively lax border controls between North Korea and China sparked the initial spread of outside information and culture—including the Korean Wave—into North Korea."

The outlet added, "Korean videos distributed in North Korea at the time first went through illegal copying in China, then entered North Korea via ethnic Chinese intermediaries and others. These videos were widely circulated through black markets, giving rise to the so-called 'Jangmadang Generation' (young people born after the 1980s and 1990s who grew up experiencing the capitalist-style marketplace following the collapse of the food rationing system) and, subsequently, a new 'Korean Wave Generation.'"

The drama "Crash Landing on You" depicts the romance between North Korean officer Ri Jeonghyeok (Hyun Bin) and South Korean chaebol heiress Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin). tvN

Amid this surging "Korean Wave" popularity, North Korean teenagers have recently adopted the "finger heart" as a new form of greeting and play that allows them to communicate emotions silently and avoid detection. A local source said, "The finger heart allows kids to express feelings easily and from a distance without worrying about slip-ups from speaking, so it spread explosively among the youth. It has become so commonplace that it is now meaningless to even try to trace where it all began."

"New Generation" Is Open with Emotions—From Thumbs-Up to the V Sign

The hand gestures that have taken hold are not limited to the heart shape. Making a "V" sign with two fingers or placing a hand on the chin—expressions unheard of among previous generations—are also spreading quickly. The source explained, "Even the thumbs-up gesture appearing in videos produced and distributed by North Korean authorities contributed to the growing popularity of expressing emotions through gestures."

On May 1, 2022, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gave a thumbs-up with his left thumb to the youths participating in the military parade. Photo by Yonhap News

For example, in the music video for the Kim Jong Un tribute song "Dear Parent," released in 2024, residents are seen smiling and giving a thumbs-up. Since then, more people have used the thumbs-up to convey positive meanings like 'good' or 'the best.'

The source added, "While the thumbs-up sometimes appeared in the past, the current wave—where young people use the V sign, touch their chins, and play around with such gestures as ways to express their feelings with friends—is a transformation never seen before. Even if these are influences from outside culture, it would be virtually impossible to control every gesture young people exchange in their private interactions."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.