8. Korean Demilitarised Zone
Issues of sonic warfare have been in the media spotlight over the past few weeks amid increasing tensions on the Korean Demilitarised Zone (the border between North and South Korea). The two nations have been in a tense war of words ever since the Korean War was effectively put on hiatus (but never officially ended). Recently things escalated when North Korea launched landmine attacks on its neighbours, killing two South Koreans. Determined to receive an apology from Kim Jong-Un, South Korea elected to blast various k-pop anthems at insane volumes across the DMZ. Tracks such as Big Bang's Bang Bang Bang, Girls' Generation's Genie and IU's Heart were employed to drown out the propaganda being repeatedly pumped out by North Korea. They augmented the songs with anti-North propaganda. Apparently the North couldn't respond properly as its speakers were too weak, and the South Koreans named its broadcasts "The Sound of Hope," in parody of the North's "The Sound of Freedom". This is an interesting example of music being employed as both an irritant and a device for propaganda.