Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies explained

Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies
Native Name:	평양외국어대학

Hangul:	평양외국어대학
Hanja:	平壤外國語大學
Rr:	Pyeongyang Oegugeo Daehak
Mr:	Pyŏngyang Oegugŏ Taehak
Context:	north

The Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies is a five-year university in Pyongyang, North Korea, specializing in language education.

History

The university was split off from Kim Il-sung University in 1964.^[1] North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency gives its foundation date as 15 November 1949.^{[2] [3]} It does not have as high a reputation as those of Kim Il-sung University's foreign languages division, which trains members of the political elite; most graduates go on to become working-level diplomats or work in the intelligence service.^[4]

Structure

In total, 22 languages are taught at PUFS. The university has separate colleges for students of English, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese; the so-called "Ethnic Languages College" offers instruction in a further 18 languages: Hungarian, Arabic, Malay, Khmer, Thai, Lao, Persian, Hindi, Urdu, German, Bulgarian, Czech, Polish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, and Spanish.^[5]

Notable students, faculty, and alumni

• Charles Robert Jenkins, American defector and former English teacher; his daughters Brinda and Mika formerly attended as students^[6]
• James Dresnok, son of American defector James Joseph Dresnok^[7]
• Ri Yong-ho^[8]
• Thae Yong-ho, defector from North Korea, formerly North Korea's deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom; current member of the National Assembly in South Korea

See also

• List of universities in North Korea

References

• Danahar, Paul. "Meeting North Korea's 'Generation Next'" BBC News. BBC, 13 Feb. 2010. Web. 12 Apr. 2014.

External links

• Meeting North Korea's 'Generation next': a UK Wired News interview with a British Council ESL teacher at the Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies
• Class Report from North Korea, another interview with a different British Council ESL teacher at the Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies

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Notes and References

1. News: http://www.minjog21.com/news/read.php?idxno=2404 . ko:과학기술중시정책 영향... 외국어 배우기 열풍, 2개 국어 회화 필수 . Minjog21 . Impact of science and technology-oriented policy… . Yi . Jae-seung . 23 July 2007 . ko . dead . 20 July 2007 . 8 February 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120208044338/http://www.minjog21.com/news/read.php?idxno=2404 .
2. News: Pyongyang Univ. of Foreign Studies . . 24 November 2009 . 30 December 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110430195205/http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2009/200911/news24/20091124-12ee.html . 30 April 2011.
3. Web site: Archived copy . 2022-12-18 . 2022-12-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221218045958/http://m.oananews.org/news.php?id=549725 . dead .
4. News: North Korea's Confusing Brand of English. National Public Radio. Bowers. Andy. 2006-10-10.
5. Web site: Archived copy. Minjong21. ko. 2014-12-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110714100529/http://www.minjog21.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=2404 . 2011-07-14 .
6. News: Asia Times Online. The strange saga of Charles Robert Jenkins. https://web.archive.org/web/20040614014002/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/FF05Dh05.html. unfit. 2004-06-14. 2004-06-05. 2007-07-20. Curtin. J. Sean.
7. An American in North Korea. 60 Minutes. CBS Television. Produced by Robert G. Anderson and Casey Morgan; reported by Bob Simon. 2007-07-28.
8. Book: North Korea Handbook. 2002. M.E. Sharpe. 978-0-7656-3523-5. 186–187.