Kim Il-sung University

Kim Il-sung University
Type Public
Established 1 October 1946 (1946-10-01)
President Song Ja-reeb
Academic staff
 1,200
Administrative staff
 2,800
Students 16,000
Location Ryongnam-dong, Taesong District, Pyongyang, North Korea[1]
39°3′29″N 125°46′6″E / 39.05806°N 125.76833°E / 39.05806; 125.76833Coordinates: 39°3′29″N 125°46′6″E / 39.05806°N 125.76833°E / 39.05806; 125.76833
Campus Urban
Website www.ryongnamsan.edu.kp
Kim Il-sung University
Chosŏn'gŭl 김일성종합대학
Hancha 金日成綜合大學
Revised Romanization Gim Il-seong Jonghap Daehak
McCune–Reischauer Kim Il-sŏng Chonghap Taehak

Kim Il-sung University, founded on 1 October 1946, is the first university built in North Korea. It is located on a 15-hectare 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 centre, dormitories and a hospital.[2] There is a sizeable computer lab, but it has only limited internet access.[3] The university is named in honour of Kim Il-sung, the founder of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Courses in both the department of social sciences and the department of natural sciences take five years to complete.[2]

History

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.

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 Industrial University), Sariwon Agricultural University and Pyongyang University School of Medicine.

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.

During the Korean War, the university was located at Baeksong-ri under Mt. 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.

By the end of 1970s more than 50,000 students graduated annually from the university. In addition, the university was an important asset of 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 (박관오), 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.[4] Since 2009, the current university president is Song Ja Reeb (성자립).[5]

Departments

Social sciences
Natural sciences

Notable alumni

Kim Il-sung University circa 1960

See also

References

  1. ↑ University, Kim Il Sung (2016). "Ryongnamsan". ryongnamsan.edu.kp. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=553237
  3. ↑ Wingfield-Hayes, Rupert (4 May 2016). "A rare look inside North Korea's Kim Il Sung University". BBC News. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  4. ↑ [“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]
  5. ↑ 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
  6. ↑ Choe Sang-Hun and Martin Fackler (14 June 2009). "North Korea's Heir Apparent Remains a Mystery". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  7. ↑ Kim, Song-A (9 May 2007). "Photos of Kim Jong Il's Brother, Kim Pyong Il and Recent Visits". Daily NK. Retrieved 25 October 2007.
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