Kim Chaek University of Technology, born out of the vision and decisive measures of President Kim Il Sung, has grown into a formidable institution that plays a crucial role in advancing the scientific and technical education of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Founded on September 27, Juche 37 (1948), initially as Pyongyang College of Technology, the university has undergone significant development and transformation under the energetic leadership and warm care of the great leaders. Today, it stands as the highest institution for scientific and technical education in the country, contributing to the training of talented scientists and technicians.
In its early days, the university comprised nine faculties, including mining geology, mechanical engineering, metal engineering, and electrical engineering. With over 80 dedicated teachers and more than 1500 students, the college made remarkable achievements in both educational and patriotic endeavors. President Kim Il Sung’s personal initiative and guidance during this period laid the foundation for the university’s future successes.
The university faced challenges during the Korean War, and President Kim Il Sung took unprecedented steps to recall former students fighting on the front lines to resume their studies. His deep concern for the educational conditions and students’ lives was evident during his visit to the university in June 1952 amid the war’s turmoil.
In subsequent years, the university underwent changes to meet the demands of the developing national economy. President Kim Il Sung, foreseeing the need for technical personnel to keep pace with the fast-growing economy, emphasized the combination of theoretical education with practical training. The university responded by training technical personnel with practical abilities, contributing significantly to the country’s industrialization and technical revolution.
May Juche 77 (1988) marked a significant milestone when President Kim Il Sung elevated the college to the status of a university and renamed it Kim Chaek University of Technology. This move reflected the university’s commitment to continuous improvement and adaptation to the evolving needs of the nation.
The university actively engaged in scientific research projects, pioneering various fields of advanced science and technology. Notably, in the 1980s, the Robotics Institute achieved a breakthrough by developing the country’s first numerically-controlled wire cut electro-discharge machine.
In Juche 82 (1993), President Kim Il Sung visited the university, emphasizing its mission to train talented scientific and technical personnel. He provided crucial instructions for modernizing laboratory and practical training facilities, constructing a library, an IC practice shop, and a gymnasium. His benevolent measures laid firm material and technical foundations for the university, leading to a new era in its educational and research work.
Chairman Kim Jong Il continued the legacy of guidance, inspecting the university twice in the new century and nominating it as the highest institution for training scientific and technical personnel and a pioneer in the IT industry revolution. He provided important guidelines for education and research work aligned with the requirements of the IT era.
The university, under the guidance of Chairman Kim Jong Il, achieved significant advancements, with scientists developing a Paektusan computer and hydraulic mechanized stope supports, among other practical contributions to the country’s development.
In Juche 103 (2014), under the warm care of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, a grand ceremony marked the inauguration of modern apartment houses for teachers and researchers of the university. This marked a significant improvement in living conditions, reflecting the leadership’s commitment to the well-being of educators.
Kim Jong Un’s vision for the university was clear – to become the leading chariot and locomotive, propelling the Sci-tech revolution of the new century. His guidance emphasized invigorating the economy, improving the standard of living, making breakthroughs in science and education, and fulfilling its responsibility as a trusted university.
On September 28, Juche 107 (2018), Kim Jong Un visited the university to congratulate its teachers and researchers on its 70th founding anniversary. He outlined the university’s crucial role in building a powerful socialist nation and the need to invigorate the economy through science and technology.
The university, recognizing its mission before the times and the state, continues to discharge its duties in training academic and practical talents for the knowledge-based economy. With a commitment to Juche-orientation and modernization, Kim Chaek University of Technology is poised to make positive contributions to the development of science and education and to secure a place among the world’s top universities.
As it enters the new century, the university vows to bring about a radical turn in educational and scientific work, igniting the flame of revolution in education, and solidifying its position as a driving force in the global scientific community.
