With North Korea’s university application season set to begin in earnest from mid-January, students and parents are increasingly unhappy that family financial status decides which universities students can apply to.
“University applications will soon begin, but in schools, students feel that which universities they can and cannot attend has already been decided,” a Daily NK source in Ryanggang province said recently. “It’s a fact that financial power, not grades, decides university admissions.”
According to the source, provincial medical school applicants need about 2,000 Chinese yuan (roughly $275) between the time schools are allotted university admission slots and when applicants take the entrance exam. Likewise, applicants should pay around 1,000 yuan ($137) in bribes for provincial teachers’ colleges or universities of education.
“Slots for medical school aren’t issued equally to every school, so to earn one, you must bribe powerful people like provincial party officials, state security officers, or police,” the source said. “Even if you bribe a provincial party official, if you choose a weak one, your slot could go to somebody else.”
“Because of this, parents are looking for powerful officials to grab hold of the safest line they can,” he added.
This corruption in university admissions has continued for decades. Because of this, many students believe North Korea’s university entrance exams or high school graduation tests have little impact on university admissions.
Merit abandoned for money and connections
“Even if you’re a good student, you can’t even consider going to university if your family has no money,” the source said. “Students from poor families abandon university plans and consider how to make money instead.”
North Korea’s educational authorities emphasize that university admissions are determined fairly based on grades and ability, but with success often practically determined by family wealth or power, many students are losing enthusiasm for educational achievement.
Moreover, students and parents distrust the educational authorities, schools, and even homeroom teachers.
“Every early January, wealthy parents visit officials to ask them to use their power to help their children get into desired universities, while students from poor families ultimately give up on university, even if they want to go,” the source said. “It’s really sad that good, sincere students give up on university because their families are poor.”
January 14, 2026 at 01:30AM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)