Exactly. Even one generation removed makes a hell of a difference. Hearing stories about something is worlds apart from actually knowing something. They are already 40 some years out from the revolution, the people who remember the proceeding society are starting to get old now.

Even if the situation is not getting worse per se, they need to turn it around soon while they still have people who remember what it was like before, or they risk significant cultural loss.

At least Iranian population is demographically and geographically more difficult to control than NK.