Over 11 million tweets were made about the popular South Korean boy band around the world since the group’s official Twitter account was launched, with 15 identified as coming from north of the border, according to a short clip uploaded by Twitter Korea. (Image: Twitter)
SEOUL, Jul. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — Data published from Twitter earlier this week suggests some users have sent tweets about South Korean boy band EXO from North Korea, a country where enjoying South Korean pop culture could land you in jail.
Over 11 million tweets were made about the popular South Korean boy band around the world since the group’s official Twitter account was launched, with 15 identified as coming from north of the border, according to a short clip uploaded by Twitter Korea.
The clip showed red lights on a world map representing locations from which tweets about EXO were sent, with the lights shining the brightest in South Korea and in Southeast Asia in particular.
While the red lights were found in different regions including North and South America and Europe, what attracted international media coverage in the last few days was the lights beaming from the North Korean capital of Pyongyang as well as other cities near the border with China.
Data published from Twitter earlier this week suggests some users have sent tweets about South Korean boy band EXO from North Korea, a country where enjoying South Korean pop culture could land you in jail. (Image: Yonhap)
Despite speculation, it is unknown whether the tweets were made by North Koreans or foreign nationals with internet access staying in the country.
There are an estimated 16,000 Twitter users in North Korea, according to a report released in January by social marketing companies We Are Social and Hootsuite.
Hyunsu Yim (hyunsu@koreabizwire.com)
