Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Rapper’s delight?
Well, yes. But this 29-year-old rapper is from perhaps one of the most unlikely corners of the hip-hop map – North Korea.
Tell me more
It’s a far cry from the state-controlled pop and folk music usually produced by the country. Having escaped North Korea when he was 16, Kang Chun-hyok’s raps contain provocative messages.
Can’t say I’ve heard any of his songs…
You probably haven’t, unless you happened to attend the Kkotjebi in Bloom exhibition opening in Seoul this month. Chun-hyok performed to a crowd of humanitarian workers and foreign diplomats: “You took money that we made digging earth to fund nuclear weapons. Take out that fat from your pot belly. Nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons,” he sang.
How did he get out of North Korea?
Chun-hyok ran away in 2001 to South Korea, where he is now studying fine arts at Hongik University.
Any other ventures?
Like many entrepreneurial rappers, Chun-kyok has his fingers in a couple of pies. He has drawn illustrations for a children’s book, Do You Know How Happy You Are? and has artwork on display at a Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human rights exhibition, which aims to highlight the hardships and adversity that North Korean children are up against. Chun-hyok particularly understands the children’s plight, as he was called a “flowering swallow”, which refers to homeless children searching for food and shelter.
A chart-topping future?
Chun-hyok wants to be the best rapper to come out of North Korea and is receiving musical guidance from a well-known South Korean hip-hop artist, Yang Dong-geun, and his fans have started crowd-funding to launch his music career.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments