A professor at Hamhung University of Pharmacology was arrested in December for manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine, with investigators discovering he had used students to sell the drugs, Daily NK has learned.
“The community is shocked that a Hamhung University professor was making meth and involving students in its distribution,” a source in South Hamgyong province told Daily NK recently. “While people condemn the professor’s actions, they’re also criticizing the system that led to this situation.”
The professor, a man in his 50s identified only by the surname Kim, was arrested on campus by city police inspectors in mid-December and is currently under interrogation. His involvement came to light during an investigation into a drug ring that was broken up in Wonsan in November.
As authorities suspect this case extends beyond one professor’s corruption to involve multiple faculty members and students, the Supreme Procurator’s Office has launched a university-wide inspection. Their involvement stems from Hamhung University’s status as a “central university” despite its provincial location.
The investigation has effectively halted administrative work at the university, leaving graduating students particularly anxious. “Some soon-to-graduate students were caught up in this when the professor asked them to run errands,” the source said. “There’s widespread fear about possible expulsions or other punishments.”
Local residents suggest many students may have been unwittingly drawn into the scheme while following their professor’s instructions. “In Hamhung, people aren’t shocked to hear about meth production – even market vendors are making and selling it,” the source explained. “The real concern is that innocent students might face punishment.”
The case highlights how deeply drugs have infiltrated North Korean society, with the professor’s exploitation of his position and students making the situation particularly egregious.
While the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office has pledged to use this case as a springboard for broader drug crime eradication, locals remain skeptical. Many expect the investigation will follow familiar patterns – a superficial probe ending with the punishment of a few scapegoats.
“People are taking a wait-and-see approach about whether this inspection will bring real change,” the source said. “Most investigations just punish a few examples to maintain appearances. Unless the authorities address underlying economic hardships, these incidents will keep happening.”
February 03, 2025 at 06:15AM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)