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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Life in North Korea – coming of age | Life in North Korea – coming of age |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| You become a legal adult in North Korea at 17 and immediately receive one of two types of documents – identifying you as either a resident of Pyongyang or not. | You become a legal adult in North Korea at 17 and immediately receive one of two types of documents – identifying you as either a resident of Pyongyang or not. |
| The type of ID will determine how much freedom of movement you are allowed. Most North Koreans cannot leave the county without the state’s permission but Pyongyang residents have fewer restrictions. | The type of ID will determine how much freedom of movement you are allowed. Most North Koreans cannot leave the county without the state’s permission but Pyongyang residents have fewer restrictions. |
| This is also the age when all North Koreans will join the youth league, officially named the Kim Il-sung Socialist Youth League. This organisation is a copy of the Soviet komsomol, however, unlike the USSR, membership is universal. | |
| Becoming an adult also means one has a duty to vote. Or rather, to go to the polling station, take a ballot with one name on it, bow to the leaders’ portraits and put the ballot in the box. This is voting in North Korea, and there has never been a single vote against the official candidate since 1958. | Becoming an adult also means one has a duty to vote. Or rather, to go to the polling station, take a ballot with one name on it, bow to the leaders’ portraits and put the ballot in the box. This is voting in North Korea, and there has never been a single vote against the official candidate since 1958. |
| Party people | Party people |
| If you live in North Korea, the single most important factor that will determine the course of your life is whether or not you become a party member. | If you live in North Korea, the single most important factor that will determine the course of your life is whether or not you become a party member. |
| The party’s name is usually translated as the Workers’ Party of Korea, but a more accurate translation would be the Korean Labour Party. The irony of this is that people join it so as not to become a worker – and, if they are fortunate, to avoid physical labour entirely. | The party’s name is usually translated as the Workers’ Party of Korea, but a more accurate translation would be the Korean Labour Party. The irony of this is that people join it so as not to become a worker – and, if they are fortunate, to avoid physical labour entirely. |
| Rather than a normal political party, it is a huge bureaucratic structure which strives to oversee the country’s economy and society in its entirety. | Rather than a normal political party, it is a huge bureaucratic structure which strives to oversee the country’s economy and society in its entirety. |
| All members of the North Korean elite, including all the officers in the army, police and secret police, are party members. In fact, becoming a party member is the only way to aspire to a high social position. | All members of the North Korean elite, including all the officers in the army, police and secret police, are party members. In fact, becoming a party member is the only way to aspire to a high social position. |
| The party’s structure is quite similar to the Communist party of the Soviet Union: every administrative unit has a committee which serves as the local government. The country as whole is ruled by the Central Committee, which is presided over by the Politburo. | The party’s structure is quite similar to the Communist party of the Soviet Union: every administrative unit has a committee which serves as the local government. The country as whole is ruled by the Central Committee, which is presided over by the Politburo. |
| Unlike the USSR, there is one more step: the Politburo’s Standing Committee, which, like in China, is the highest ruling body in the country. And, finally, the head of state in First Secretary Kim Jong-un. | Unlike the USSR, there is one more step: the Politburo’s Standing Committee, which, like in China, is the highest ruling body in the country. And, finally, the head of state in First Secretary Kim Jong-un. |
| The procedure for admission into the party has been copied from the Soviet Union: an applicant needs two recommendations from existing members and approval from the local organising committee. If accepted, the applicant is first admitted as a candidate member and is eligible to become a full member after a year. | The procedure for admission into the party has been copied from the Soviet Union: an applicant needs two recommendations from existing members and approval from the local organising committee. If accepted, the applicant is first admitted as a candidate member and is eligible to become a full member after a year. |
| Entrants receive a a membership card, which is actually a a small book with a few pages. The party booklet is fetishised in communist countries; losing it is considered a serious offence. | Entrants receive a a membership card, which is actually a a small book with a few pages. The party booklet is fetishised in communist countries; losing it is considered a serious offence. |
| Immediately after admission a new party member is granted access to the lowest-level classified documents that are “for party members only”, which outline state ideology and propaganda. | Immediately after admission a new party member is granted access to the lowest-level classified documents that are “for party members only”, which outline state ideology and propaganda. |
| The party is huge, with more than five million members. Since the population is 24 million, a motivated person with an acceptable songbun (social stature) has a good chance of being admitted. | The party is huge, with more than five million members. Since the population is 24 million, a motivated person with an acceptable songbun (social stature) has a good chance of being admitted. |
| The most secure way to gain acceptance to the party is to join the military. Although this requires a long term of service, 10 years for men and three to six years for women, many North Koreans decide that party membership is worth the sacrifice. | The most secure way to gain acceptance to the party is to join the military. Although this requires a long term of service, 10 years for men and three to six years for women, many North Koreans decide that party membership is worth the sacrifice. |
| Political officers decide on admission to the military, so the shortest way to achieve party membership is to be an exemplary student at political training sessions and have good relations with the political officer of your unit. | Political officers decide on admission to the military, so the shortest way to achieve party membership is to be an exemplary student at political training sessions and have good relations with the political officer of your unit. |
| Higher education | Higher education |
| The army also provides opportunities to those who wish to go to university: after four years of service you can sit an internal exam and those who pass are allowed to apply to study. They will then sit a university exam and, if successful, gain admission. | The army also provides opportunities to those who wish to go to university: after four years of service you can sit an internal exam and those who pass are allowed to apply to study. They will then sit a university exam and, if successful, gain admission. |
| All North Koreans, regardless of whether they serve four or 10 years in the army (or don’t serve at all, as bribes can overcome every hurdle), are able to choose to study further. | All North Koreans, regardless of whether they serve four or 10 years in the army (or don’t serve at all, as bribes can overcome every hurdle), are able to choose to study further. |
| About a sixth of the population does go to university, which is a high proportion for a country with such a low standard of living. Of course, universities have their own hierarchy. | About a sixth of the population does go to university, which is a high proportion for a country with such a low standard of living. Of course, universities have their own hierarchy. |
| The most prestigious institution is the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (Pust), which was created by Kim Jong-il and has some strange traditions. | The most prestigious institution is the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (Pust), which was created by Kim Jong-il and has some strange traditions. |
| All courses are taught in English by professors who are all foreigners. Any foreigner who is not a citizen of South Korea is welcome – regardless of qualifications – to become a professor. However, given that professors are not allowed to leave campus without permission, are not paid a salary, are not compensated for their trip to North Korea and are fed badly, very few people volunteer. | All courses are taught in English by professors who are all foreigners. Any foreigner who is not a citizen of South Korea is welcome – regardless of qualifications – to become a professor. However, given that professors are not allowed to leave campus without permission, are not paid a salary, are not compensated for their trip to North Korea and are fed badly, very few people volunteer. |
| The majority of North Korea’s Number One university professors are Christian fundamentalists, whose trips are sponsored by their church. Still, it is one of the few places in North Korea where you may talk to a foreigner and learn something about the outside world, and is considered very prestigious. | The majority of North Korea’s Number One university professors are Christian fundamentalists, whose trips are sponsored by their church. Still, it is one of the few places in North Korea where you may talk to a foreigner and learn something about the outside world, and is considered very prestigious. |
| Kim Il-sung University and Pyongyang University of Foreign Languages compete for the second place. Formally, Kim Il-sung University is considered superior but in practice foreign languages are better taught in the University of Foreign Languages. Graduates are usually fluent in one foreign language and have some knowledge of another. | Kim Il-sung University and Pyongyang University of Foreign Languages compete for the second place. Formally, Kim Il-sung University is considered superior but in practice foreign languages are better taught in the University of Foreign Languages. Graduates are usually fluent in one foreign language and have some knowledge of another. |
| The next level is occupied by other prestigious institutions such as the University of Foreign Relations, Kim Chaek University of Technology and Pyongsong University of Science. The rest follow somewhere behind. | The next level is occupied by other prestigious institutions such as the University of Foreign Relations, Kim Chaek University of Technology and Pyongsong University of Science. The rest follow somewhere behind. |
| Songbun is an important factor in a potential student’s chances of success, and someone with a good bloodline will have relatively few problems gaining admission. | Songbun is an important factor in a potential student’s chances of success, and someone with a good bloodline will have relatively few problems gaining admission. |
| Another important factor is corruption. North Korean bureaucrats take bribes readily, so bad songbun or poor results can be overcome by rewarding the admissions department. | Another important factor is corruption. North Korean bureaucrats take bribes readily, so bad songbun or poor results can be overcome by rewarding the admissions department. |
| Higher education usually lasts five years, as there is no Master’s degree in North Korea. Rather there are two senior academic degrees: “candidate” (chunpaksa) and “doctor” (paksa). | Higher education usually lasts five years, as there is no Master’s degree in North Korea. Rather there are two senior academic degrees: “candidate” (chunpaksa) and “doctor” (paksa). |
| Read part the first part of this series: Life in North Korea - the early years | Read part the first part of this series: Life in North Korea - the early years |
| In the next instalment: why DPRK is one of the few countries where women earn more than men | In the next instalment: why DPRK is one of the few countries where women earn more than men |
| A version of this article first appeared on NK News – North Korean news | A version of this article first appeared on NK News – North Korean news |