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Vocational Training in North Korea – Aspirations for Advancement in a Politicized System
KORUM No 101

As a regular contributor to KORUM, Dr. Bernhard Seliger focuses in the second 2025 edition on vocational education in North Korea. He illustrates how factory schools, agricultural courses, and modern distance learning programs open up new opportunities, but these are heavily constrained by ideological directives, political control, and a lack of international cooperation.

The report addresses vocational education and training in North Korea, with a particular focus on so-called “Factory Colleges” and other educational institutions. In North Korea, there are specialized schools designed to train workers and young adults in various fields without requiring them to completely leave their jobs. These include courses for engineers, assistants, hotel management professionals, and other specialized occupations.

Part of the training takes place both in-person and through distance learning. In some institutions, such as the Central Tree Nursery in Pyongyang, distance learning has been introduced, partly supported by EU-funded projects.

Vocational education in North Korea is, however, heavily shaped by the ideology of the Kim dynasty and the Juche principle, which significantly restricts educational freedom. Additionally, practical challenges exist: limited internet access and outdated teaching materials greatly restrict access to current scientific and professional information.

Despite these ideological and practical constraints, North Korea’s education policy aims to prepare the majority of the young population for work in agriculture and industry.

 

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