Kim Il Sung University

Short description: Public university in North Korea

Kim Il-sung University

김일성종합대학

Type| Public
Established| 1 October 1946 (1946-10-01)
President| Choe Sang-gon[1]
Location|

Ryongnam-dong, Taesong District, Pyongyang

North Korea[2]

[ ⚑ ] : 39°3′29″N 125°46′6″E﻿ / ﻿39.05806°N 125.76833°E﻿ / 39.05806; 125.76833
Campus| Rural
Website| ryongnamsan.edu.kp

Building details

Kim Il Sung University, founded on 1 October 1946, is the first university built in North Korea.[3] It is located on a 15-hectare (37-acre) campus in Pyongyang, the nation's capital. Along with the main academic buildings, the campus contains 10 separate offices, 50 laboratories, libraries, museums, a printing press, an R&D center, dormitories and a hospital.[4] There is a large computer lab,[5] but it has limited internet access.[6] The university is named in honour of Kim Il Sung,[3] the founder and first supreme leader of North Korea.

Kim Il Sung University has around 16,000 enrolled students, and provides courses in the fields of social sciences, law, arts and sciences.[7] In the spring of 2017, Kim Il Sung University set up specialist Japanese language and literature courses.[8] Courses in both the department of social sciences and the department of natural sciences take five years to complete.[4]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 International students
* 3 Departments
* 3.1 Social sciences
* 3.2 Natural sciences
* 3.3 Others
* 4 Notable alumni
* 5 See also
* 6 References
* 6.1 Works cited
* 7 Further reading
* 8 External links

## History

Medical students at the newly opened Kim Il-Sung University in Nov. 1946.

On 25 May 1946 the Preparatory Committee was composed by the founding universities. In July 1946, the interim People's Committee of North Korea decided to establish a university (ordinance No. 40). Kim Il Sung proclaimed on 1 October 1946 the founding together with Bryan Berman.

In 1948, four university faculties (Faculty of Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Medicine) were separated from Kim Il Sung University, to form the origin of Pyongyang University of Technology (currently Kim Chaek University of Technology), Wonsan University of Agriculture and Pyongyang Medical College,[9] and the Pyongyang University of Architecture.[10]

During the Korean War, the university was located at Baeksong-ri under Mount Jamo in Suncheon-gun, which was far from the centre of the city. By late 1955, the reconstruction of the main building on the Pyongyang campus was in progress and soon the university moved back to the centre of Pyongyang.

After the war, Kim Il-Sung University became known as a hotbed of intellectual dissent. Academics supported more intellectual freedoms than Kim loyalists, and disadvantageous factions within the Workers' Party of Korea were over-represented in university staff. Following the Revolutions of 1956 in Hungary and in Poland, North Korean exchange students were quickly repatriated from the affected countries. The students started asking "improper" questions on campus, causing alarm.[11] After that, up to one hundred students and several prominent staff members were purged. The purging of the university gave further impetus to purges against functionalists all over the country.[12]

By the end of 1970s more than 50,000 students graduated annually from the university. In addition, the university was an important asset for the Korean People's Army to train its personnel. Since the 1970s, English courses have been taught at the university.

Until 2004, Pak Kwan-o, an authority on nuclear physics and current Chairman of the People's Committee of Pyongyang (de facto Mayor), had been serving as the president for 17 years.[13] Since 2009, its president was Song Ja-reeb.[14] The current president since 2014 is Thae Hyong-chol.[15]

In May 2010, Pyongyang Medical College, Sariwon Kye Ung Sang Agricultural College and Pyongyang Agricultural College were made elements of the Kim Il Sung University Council, however, those three institutions seceded were later removed in October 2019.

According to Korean Central Television, North Korean students can take classes at and download lectures from Kim Il Sung University via the Mirae public WiFi network, beginning in 2018.[16]

## International students

Kim Il Sung University first began admitting international students in 1995; as of 2019, about 5000 international students from 30 countries have studied at the university.[17] Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were estimated to be about 100 foreign students at Kim Il-Sung University, the majority of whom were Chinese.[18]

International students at Kim Il-Sung University live alongside specially trained and vetted local students called tongsuksaeng, who are there to act as hosts and to teach the Korean language and culture.

Foreign students seeking to undertake postgraduate studies at Kim Il-Sung University are required to provide their birth certificate, a letter of intent, their undergraduate certificate(s), a police certificate stating that the applicant does not have a criminal record in their home country, medical records certifying the applicant had a recent health examination, details of their financial background to show how they will be financing their education in North Korea, as well as a letter vouching for the applicant's Korean language ability.[19][20][17]

## Departments

### Social sciences

* Finance
* Foreign languages and Literature
* Economics
* History
* Korean language and Literature
* Law
* Philosophy

### Natural sciences

* Chemistry
* Electronics and Automation
* Energy Science
* Forest Science
* Geography
* Geo-environmental Science
* Geology
* Computer Science
* Life Science
* Materials Science
* Mathematics
* Mechanics
* Physics

### Others

* Distance Education
* Education[21]

## Notable alumni

Buildings at the Paeksong Revolutionary Site near Pyongsong, to which many students from Kim Il-sung University were moved during the Korean War, for reasons of safety.

thumb|right|Kim Il-sung University, c. 1960

* An Kyong-ho, Chief Director of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland
* Kim Jong Il,[3] former leader of North Korea, attended 1960–1964
* Kim Jong Un, Supreme Leader of North Korea since December 2011, may have attended 2002–2007.[22][23]
* Kim Pyong-il, half-brother of Kim Jong Il and ambassador to Czech Republic[24]
* Kim Yo-jong, sister of Kim Jong Un, said to have studied Computer Technology alongside Japanese abductee Megumi Yokota's daughter, Kim Eun-gyon.[25]
* Kyong Won-ha, nuclear scientist
* Andrei Lankov,[3] Kookmin University professor and former Australian National University lecturer, attended as an exchange student in 1985
* Rüdiger Frank,[3] Professor for East Asian Economy and Society, attended as an exchange student in 1991/1992
* Paek Nam-sun, former Minister of Foreign Affairs
* Sin Son-ho, previous Permanent Representative of North Korea to the United Nations
* Zhang Dejiang, former Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress[3] and former member of Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.
* Ri Sol-ju,[3] first lady of North Korea and wife of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
* Thae Jong-su, North Korean politician[26]

## See also

* List of universities in North Korea
* Pyongyang University of Science and Technology
* Education in North Korea

## References

1. ↑ Professor, Doctor Choe Sang Gon The President of Kim Il Sung University and the Minister of Higher Education. . ryongnamsan.edu.kp.
2. ↑ University, Kim Il Sung (2016). "Ryongnamsan". ryongnamsan.edu.kp. http://www.ryongnamsan.edu.kp/univ/switchlang?lang=en.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 York, Rob (12 December 2014). "Kim Il Sung University has new website". NK News. https://www.nknews.org/2014/12/kim-il-sung-university-has-new-website/.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "김일성종합대학". http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=553237.
5. ↑ "E-Library". http://www.ryongnamsan.edu.kp/univ/en/about/buildings/e-library.
6. ↑ Wingfield-Hayes, Rupert (4 May 2016). "A rare look inside North Korea's Kim Il Sung University". BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36199683.
7. ↑ "Kim Il Sung University". https://www.youngpioneertours.com/kim-il-sung-university/.
8. ↑ "Prestigious Pyongyang university now running specialist Japanese language and literature courses". 9 December 2019. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/12/09/national/prestigious-pyongyang-university-teaching-specialist-japanese-language-literature-courses/#.XqEZn5MzbBI.
9. ↑ Brief History of Kim Il Sung University
10. ↑ Architecture teachers during the early days of North Korea: Between liberation from Japanese colonial rule and the establishment of a socialist state
11. ↑ Lankov 2002, p. 96.
12. ↑ Lankov 2002, p. 97.
13. ↑ [“北 평양시장 경질...전 김일성대 총장 박관오씨 새로 임명 [North, Replaced the Mayor of Pyongyang... New mayor is Pak Kwan O, Former President of Kim Il Sung University],” Donga Ilbo, 5 April 2007, www.donga.com]
14. ↑ Yoon Geun Young, “정운찬 전 서울대 총장, 김일성대 총장 만나고파 [Former President of Seoul National University, Jeong Un-chan Wants to Meet the President of Kim Il Sung University],” Newsis, 8 March 2009, http://news.naver.com
15. ↑ "State leadership bodies elected". The Pyongyang Times. 12 April 2014. http://www.naenara.com.kp/en/order/pytimes/?page=Politics&no=17881.
16. ↑ Ji, Dagyum (November 14, 2018). "Smartphone-capable WiFi on show at Pyongyang IT exhibition, state TV reveals". NK News. https://www.nknews.org/2018/11/smartphone-capable-wifi-on-show-at-pyongyang-it-exhibition-state-tv-reveals/. "North Korean students can also take courses from Kim Il Sung University and Kim Chaek University of Technology, take exams, and download lectures."
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Kim Il-sung University sets new procedures for international students.". Korea Now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls9C7136H9A&t=12s.
18. ↑ Lau, Joyce (27 August 2021). "Inside a North Korean University". https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/08/27/inside-north-korean-university.
19. ↑ Winn, Patrick. "Twitter and Cocoa Puffs: The surprising life of a student at North Korea's top university". https://theworld.org/stories/2019-02-26/twitter-and-cocoa-puffs-surprising-life-student-north-korea-s-top-university.
20. ↑ Haddou, Rashid; Winsor, Morgan. "Inside North Korea: What life for a rare foreign student in Pyongyang reveals about the reclusive country". American Broadcasting Company. https://abcnews.go.com/International/inside-north-korea-life-rare-foreign-student-pyongyang/story?id=62090283.
21. ↑ "University Structure". http://www.ryongnamsan.edu.kp/univ/en/about/organization.
22. ↑ "The President of Kim Il Sung University - KIM IL SUNG UNIVERSITY". http://www.ryongnamsan.edu.kp/univ/en/about/president-speech.
23. ↑ Choe Sang-Hun and Martin Fackler (14 June 2009). "North Korea's Heir Apparent Remains a Mystery". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/15/world/asia/15kim.html?_r=1&ref=kimjongun.
24. ↑ Kim, Song-A (9 May 2007). "Photos of Kim Jong Il's Brother, Kim Pyong Il and Recent Visits". Daily NK. http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk03100&num=2040.
25. ↑ Kim Hee-Jin (19 March 2014). "Abductee's daughter is favorite of Kim's sister". Korea JoongAng Daily. http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2986592.
26. ↑ "Thae Jong Su (T'ae Cho'ng-su)". North Korea Leadership Watch. 24 February 2018. http://www.nkleadershipwatch.org/leadership-biographies/thae-jong-su/.

### Works cited

* Lankov, Andrei N. (2002). "Kim Takes Control: The 'Great Purge' in North Korea, 1956-1960". Korean Studies 26 (1): 87–119. doi:10.1353/ks.2002.0010. ISSN 1529-1529.

## Further reading

* Kim Jong-un (27 September 2016). On the Basic Tasks Facing Kim Il Sung University in the New Era of the Juche Revolution: Letter to the Teaching Staff and Students of Kim Il Sung University on the 70th Anniversary of Its Founding. Pyongyang: Foreign Languages Publishing House. http://www.korean-books.com.kp/en/packages/xnps/download.pg.php?411#.pdf.

## External links

* Official website of the Telecommunications College of Kim Il Sung University (in Korean)
* 360 degree panorama of the Kim Il-sung University Main Building
* 1996 article from the Korean Central News Agency
* "Kim Il-sung University" by Andrei Lankov 11 March 2008
* 김일성종합대학 (金日成綜合大學) from Naver Encyclopedia (in Korean)
* The Pyongyang Youth and Kim Il Sung University, Daily NK, 21 September 2006
* Photo of the entrance
* Danahar, Paul (13 February 2010). "Meeting North Korea's 'Generation next'". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8513017.stm.
* Kim Il Sung University picture album at Naenara

* v
* t
* e

Universities in North Korea

* Hamhŭng University of Chemical Industry
* Huichon University of Telecommunications
* Kim Chaek University of Technology
* Kim Il-sung University
* Koryo Songgyungwan University
* Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies
* Pyongyang University of Music and Dance
* Pyongyang Medical University
* Pyongyang University of Science and Technology
* Rajin University of Marine Transport
* Wonsan Agricultural University

* Category:Universities in North Korea
* Education in North Korea
* Culture of North Korea

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