Mrwhosetheboss Exposes Censored North Korean Smartphones

YouTuber Mrwhosetheboss has left fans fearing for his safety after he exposed the shocking restrictions built into North Korean smartphones.

The YouTuber, whose real name is Arun Maini, released the video titled Testing North Korea’s illegal smartphones, in which he examined two devices from the notoriously secretive country.

The devices in question were the Hayyang 701 and the Samtaesung 8, often described as North Korea’s alternative to the Samsung Galaxy.

Both phones are designed to provide citizens with extremely limited functionality, entirely controlled by the state.

Arun attempted basic searches on the phones and immediately discovered evidence of censorship.

Typing ‘South Korea’ into the Hayyang device automatically changed the text to read ‘puppet state’.

He said this showed “just how committed North Korea’s government is [in] sustaining its narrative that South Korea is the inferior, less individual country that just blindly follows whatever the US asks them to”.

The autocorrect feature reflects software built to block language the state considers unacceptable, while promoting terms that reinforce government ideology.

Connectivity options further highlighted the restrictions.

On the Hayyang, a WiFi button appears on-screen but does nothing when pressed, while the Samtaesung lacks a WiFi option entirely. Instead, both devices connect only to a controlled Intranet.

Inside the Intranet

Mrwhosetheboss explained: “This still doesn’t get you onto the internet.

“There’s actually no way for a North Korean citizen to do that.”

Arun said the Intranet, known as Mirae, provides access only to “government-approved TV, news, and propaganda apps”.

Users must submit extensive personal details, including government ID, to gain access. This system ensures that all online activity is closely monitored.

He added that the phones illustrate how surveillance is woven into daily life. Restrictions in hardware, software, and network access work together to reinforce state narratives and suppress unapproved knowledge.

Arun also said that the devices reflect wider patterns of control across North Korean society.

Reaction from viewers has been immediate.

Many praised the depth of Arun’s investigation, but concern for his safety was common.

One commenter said: “Bro is now the top of the most wanted list of North Korea.”

Another wrote: “Arun’s next video gonna be titled: ‘So… I moved to an undisclosed bunker’.”

A third echoed: “If he stops uploading, we all know the reason.”

One person commented:

“Ok so if he mysteriously disappears, we now know why.”

Others suggested that Arun was “risking his life for this content.”

Alongside concerns for Arun, many viewers commented on the sheer absurdity of the phones.

The devices exemplify how North Korea’s government controls what its citizens can see and do, even at a basic technological level.

Mrwhosetheboss’ video has sparked broader discussion about censorship and the control of information in the country.

It also raises questions about how much North Koreans truly know about the world outside their borders.

Millions of viewers have now seen the video, which shows the stark reality of life in a digital ecosystem built entirely for surveillance and propaganda.

Mrwhosetheboss continues to post his regular content despite concerns, and the video remains one of his most discussed pieces.

It highlights both the power of investigative technology content and the extreme measures some states take to monitor and restrict information.

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