A few months back, I saw a post about North Korea's version of k-pop, comparing and contrasting it with the more well known scene in South Korea. While watching the attached video, I noticed some similarities and differences to South Korea's girl groups.

I noticed that both groups seem to emphasize their synchronized choreography and they are overall going for a good image as a group. However, the group from North Korea has a lot less individuality within, as all members are seen in totally matching dresses with the same hairstyles, whereas the members of the South Korean group have slightly altered outfits and a variety of individual hairstyles.
I just thought it was really interesting that, although both Koreas share a common interest in music, the styles that came out of it are so different. Listening to the North Korean song and watching the performance, I felt a sense of tradition in the performance. The South Korean video had a much more modern feel and the Western influence seems a lot more prominent. To me, it's obvious that the effects of the 38th parallel's influence is more than simply political. It has created a difference in lifestyles and it has affected how people enjoy the same things in different ways.

-David