Other Names: University of Hamhung Chemical Industry, University of Chemical Industry, Hamhŭng University of Chemical Engineering, Hŭngnam College of Technology, University of Hŭngnam Chemical Industry
Location: Hamhŭng (咸興市), South Hamgyŏng Province (咸鏡南道), North Korea
Subordinate to: The Science 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: Seven schools, 46 departments, 58 laboratories, a "few factories for prototype production, and approximately 5,000 students
Primary Function: Research and development, education and training
Description: The Hamhŭng University of Chemical Industry was established in 1947 as North Korea's first institute of higher educational in the field of science and technology. The college was originally called the Hŭngnam Industrial College (興南工業大學), but it was changed to its current name in 1954. According to defector Lee Ch'ung Kuk, many of the researchers at the No. 398 Research Institute received their training at the Hamhŭng University of Chemical Industry. Furthermore, many Korean People's Army personnel are said to receive training in CW defense here. The university is well known as North Korea's foremost training ground for chemists and engineers, and it has 46 chemistry-related departments, as well as four affiliated research institutes. Departments in the discipline of chemistry include chemical mechanical engineering, high polymer chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and organic chemistry.
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| Main building at the campus of the Hamhŭng University of Chemical Industry (咸興化學工業大學) (Korea Today, December 1997). |
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| Photographs of classrooms and laboratories (Korea Today, December 1997). |
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Updated April 2003 |
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Key Sources:
Lee Chae Sŭng, "Pukhan Kwahag'ŭi Isanggwa Hyŏnshil," Chapter Three in Pukhan'ŭl Umjiginŭn Technocrat (Seoul: Ilbit, August 1998), pp. 123-174, in "Chemical Engineering, Experts Described," 23 December 1999, FBIS Document ID: FTS19991223001168; Various sources, in "Profile of DPRK University, Link to WMD," FBIS Document ID KPP20000907000105; ROK Ministry of Unification, Pukhan Kaeyo 2000, (Seoul: Ministry of Unification, 1999), p. 488; Lee Chae Sŭng, "Taehakshisŏl (Pukhanŭi Kyoyuk: 7)," Segye Ilbo, 9 September 1002, p. 14, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr/>.
