fried chicken as a means of living because his
YouTube-related income is too small. But he
feels it’s worth it to keep his YouTube career
going because some subscribers have left
messages saying his broadcasts helped resolve
their misunderstandings of North Korea.
“They cheer me up and make me be positive.
They are the reasons why I shoot YouTube
videos today and tomorrow,” Jang said, petting
his Maltese.
He said the term “Tango” in his channel’s title
is an abbreviation of Korean words meaning “a
plump cat,” a reference to his friends joking that
the round-faced Jang has a cat-looking face.
Although he knew that tango in English is a type
of dance, he decided to go ahead with that word
because the liveliness of the dance matches
what he seeks from his channel.
Other North Korea-born YouTubers talk about
why they left their homeland and the experiences
they’ve had in South Korea. Some also broadcast
themselves putting on North Korean-style
makeup or eating foods from the country.
The young YouTubers are mostly stylish, contrary
to the stereotype of North Korean refugees
as being rough and unsophisticated. About
32,000 North Koreans have fled to the South
over the past two decades to avoid poverty and
political repression.
Kang Na-ra, a North Korean escapee who
regularly appears on two YouTube channels and
two TV programs, is called “Princess Na-ra” by
her fans. The 22-year-old with long, brown-dyed
hair said she has a 200-member fan club that has
sent her a cake topped with a mini-Kang doll on
her birthday for the past three years.