Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies

The Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies is a 5-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 1949.^[2] 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.^[3]

Structure

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, including French, Spanish, Arabic, Thai, Urdu, Khmer, and, as of July 2007, Polish and Italian.^[4]

In total, 22 languages are taught at PUFS:

Chinese, Russian, Japanese, Hungarian, Arabic, Malay, Khmer, Thai, Lao, Persian, Hindi, Urdu, English, 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]

References

• Yi, Jae-seung (2007-07-23). "과학기술중시정책 영향... 외국어 배우기 열풍, 2개 국어 회화 필수". Minjog21.
• "Pyongyang Univ. of Foreign Studies". Korean Central News Agency. 2009-11-24. Retrieved 2010-12-30.
• Bowers, Andy (2006-10-10). "North Korea's Confusing Brand of English". National Public Radio.
• "北평양외대, 폴란드.이태리어科 신설 (Pyongyang Foreign Languages University establishes Polish, Italian courses)". JoongAng Ilbo. 2007-07-05. Retrieved 2007-07-20.
• Curtin, J. Sean (2004-06-05). "The strange saga of Charles Robert Jenkins". Asia Times Online. Retrieved 2007-07-20.
• Produced by Robert G. Anderson and Casey Morgan; reported by Bob Simon (2007-07-28). "An American in North Korea". 60 Minutes. CBS Television.
• Danahar, Paul. "Meeting North Korea's 'Generation Next'" BBC News. BBC, 13 Feb. 2010. Web. 12 Apr. 2014.

See also

• List of universities in North Korea

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

Coordinates: 39°3′55″N 125°46′4″E / 39.06528°N 125.76778°E / 39.06528; 125.76778

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