From North Korea to South Africa: The Cost of Social Engineering

North Korea is a communist state that has been ruled by the Kim family for over 70 years. The country is one of the most isolated and authoritarian regimes in the world, with absolute control exerted by the leader over every aspect of life.

North Korea’s governance is rooted in Juche, an ideology of self-reliance that emphasises the central authority of the leader. The state controls the economy, the military, and even the personal lives of its citizens. Dissent is brutally suppressed, and all opposition to the regime is either silenced or punished.

One of the tools the regime uses to maintain this tight grip on power is songbun, a system of social classification that determines the fate of every individual based on their family’s political history, their perceived loyalty to the regime, and their social standing. In this system, people are categorised as “core”, “wavering”, or “hostile”, based on factors such as their family background, class origin, and past political behaviour. Those who fall into the "core" category, deemed loyal to the regime, enjoy privileges, while those in the “hostile” class, including the descendants of landowners, religious practitioners, or perceived enemies of the state, are relegated to the lowest rungs of society, often facing forced labour and punishment.

This system is not just about categorisation; it controls every aspect of life. Songbun dictates where you can live, what job you can hold, how much food you can receive during times of famine, and whether your family can enjoy any degree of comfort. Those with “wavering” loyalty live in constant fear of surveillance and punishment, knowing that one small misstep or social error can destroy their lives – and their family’s future.

In North Korea, loyalty to the state is not just a public act – it is an ongoing performance. Even within families, people are taught to watch their words and actions, for fear of being reported by those closest to them. Children are trained to inform on their parents if they utter the wrong words at home. In this way, fear of betrayal becomes deeply ingrained from an early age, and the regime ensures that any attempt at rebellion is quashed before it can even begin.

The Dangers of Social Engineering: Drawing Parallels with South Africa’s BEE

While North Korea’s songbun system is extreme, the concept of social engineering through the control of people’s opportunities and life paths is not unique to that regime. South Africa, with its black economic empowerment (BEE) laws, has implemented a form of social engineering that, in many ways, mirrors the same dangers. Though the South African government’s intentions with BEE may be different – focused on correcting racial inequalities and promoting economic transformation – it has led to the creation of a system that, like North Korea’s songbun, divides society and limits individual potential based on race rather than merit or ability.

BEE categorises people primarily based on their race, and access to opportunities, whether in business, education, or government, is often determined by this classification. While this system is meant to address the legacy of apartheid and ensure economic inclusion for historically disadvantaged groups, it has also created a society where individuals' futures are largely determined by their race, rather than their abilities or efforts.

Much like songbun, which punishes individuals for the perceived wrongs of their ancestors, BEE punishes individuals who belong to certain racial groups, regardless of their personal achievements or qualifications. Those who are deemed to belong to "historically disadvantaged" groups benefit from affirmative action policies, regardless of their actual socio-economic status or capability. Meanwhile, others, regardless of their talent, are restricted in their access to opportunities because of their race.

The social and economic consequences of BEE are apparent. A few individuals might benefit from the system, those who fit the government’s criteria, but many others are locked out of opportunities because they don’t fall into the predetermined racial categories set by the system. This limits the potential of individuals, much like songbun does in North Korea, where people’s abilities are overshadowed by their family’s political history.

A System that Undermines Society

The most damaging aspect of BEE, like songbun, is that it undermines the potential for genuine societal growth and unity. Just as North Korea’s society is one built on fear and the total suppression of individualism and personal freedom, South Africa’s society has become one where merit and hard work are secondary to fulfilling racial quotas. People are less likely to strive for excellence if they know that their chances of advancement are not based on their talents or contributions, but on meeting the government’s racial targets. This creates resentment, division, and a sense of powerlessness in both the "privileged" and the "disenfranchised" groups.

BEE also undermines the foundation of individual agency, just as songbun does in North Korea. In both systems, people’s potential is defined not by what they do but by where they are placed within the state’s framework. In South Africa, this framework results in affirmative action policies that favour people based on race, rather than competence or ability. For many South Africans, BEE has become another tool of division, just as songbun is in North Korea.

The result is a country that, like North Korea, is increasingly unable to harness the full potential of its people. Opportunities are distorted, and resources are misallocated in an effort to maintain a particular ideological framework. The long-term effect of BEE, and of policies like it, is the destruction of the meritocratic ideals that form the backbone of any thriving society.

What Can South Africa Learn from North Korea?

The lesson from North Korea’s social engineering experiment is clear: when a government decides to control people’s lives based on predetermined categories, whether they are political loyalty, race, or any other metric, it ultimately stifles human potential. The North Korean government controls its people through surveillance, repression, and fear, creating a society where the individual cannot speak openly, or act with autonomy.

South Africa must learn from this lesson. Social engineering, whether in the form of songbun in North Korea or BEE in South Africa, limits individual agency and divides society into groups that compete against one another for state-approved rewards, rather than working together to improve their lives through individual effort and merit.

Instead of continuing with BEE, South Africa should pursue policies that encourage the free expression of individual potential, policies that promote entrepreneurship, job creation, and access to education and opportunities based on merit, not racial classification. Only then will South Africa be able to truly build a society that values and rewards every individual, regardless of their race or background.