Other Names: Kim Chaek Polytechnic Institute, Kim Ch’aek College of Science

Location: Yŏnggwang Street (榮光거리), Kyogu-dong (橋口洞), Chung-kuyŏk (中區域), Pyongyang (平壤市), North Korea

Subordinate to: The Science and Education Department (科學敎育部) under the Korean Workers Party Central Committee (朝鮮勞動黨中央委員會) exercises overall supervision, but the Department of Higher Education (高等敎育部) in the Ministry of Education (敎育省) manages administrative affairs. [Note: There are also education bureaus under the people’s committees in every city and/or province (市·都 人民委員會敎育局) that contribute to the formation of education policy, and the local education bureau could provide some input for the school.]

Size: The university has 18 departments (學部) and about 80 programs (學科), about 10,000 students and 2,000 staff. There are 10 research institutes and one graduate school (博士院). There are 54 laboratories and a library with about 600,000 volumes. The campus has a total area of 400,000 square meters.

Primary Function: Education and training, research and development

Description: Kim Chaek University of Technology was originally part of Kim Il Sung University before it was established as the Pyongyang College of Technology (平壤工業大學)” in 1948. In 1951, during the Korean War, the college’s name was changed to “Kim Chaek College of Technology (金策工業大學)” [Note: General Kim Ch’aek, commander of the KPA’s Frontline Headquarters, died in the war.] In 1988, the college was elevated to a university (綜合大學). Between 1981 and 1993, a large-scale construction program doubled the size of the campus to its present size of 400,000m2. The university’s programs in nuclear reactors, nuclear electronics, nuclear fuel and nuclear engineering specialize in training nuclear researchers and technical personnel. Graduates are reportedly posted to the Yŏngbyŏn Nuclear Research Center or to nuclear facilities in Packch’ŏn-kun.

	Updated June 2005

Key Sources:
Lee Chae Sŭng, Pukhan’ŭl Umjig’i’nŭn Technocrat (Seoul: Ilbit, 1998), pp. 103-104; “Shisabaekkwa: Kimch’aekkong’ŏptaehak,” Chosun Ilbo, <http://nk.chosun.com>; “Pukhan Uŏngŏp’ul’i,” Christian Mission for North Korea, <http://www.cmnk.org>; North Korea Yearbook 2002 (Seoul: Yonhap News Agency, 2001) Chapter 8; “'So K'udet'a Chiwŏn' Kim Jong Il Kŭkpijishi: Kwisun Pukwoegyo'gwan Ko Yŏng Hwan Ssi Ilmun'ildap,” Chosun Ilbo, 14 September 1991, in KINDS <http://www.kinds.or.kr>; ROK Ministry of Unification, Pukhan Kaeyo 2000, (Seoul: Ministry of Unification, 1999), p. 488.