South Pyongan province is implementing North Korean ruling party directives to enhance its medical and educational systems following Pyongyang’s model, Daily NK has learned.
“In mid-March, the South Pyongan provincial party committee received orders from the Central Committee to elevate the provincial medical system to match Pyongyang General Hospital standards and upgrade provincial universities to the level of Pyongyang’s teachers’ colleges. Committee members are now taking concrete steps to fulfill these directives,” a South Pyongan source told Daily NK recently.
The provincial party committee is prioritizing bringing local general hospitals up to Pyongyang General Hospital standards.
As part of this initiative, the committee plans to select 25 promising young doctors from the province who demonstrate exceptional talent and substantial clinical and surgical experience.
Official announcements indicate the selection process should take place between May and June. However, inside sources report it actually began in early April, generating significant interest among young doctors at provincial hospitals.
With rumors suggesting selected doctors might have opportunities to visit Pyongyang or even travel internationally, young physicians are reportedly scrambling to leverage connections and offer bribes.
“The official explanation states that the 25 selected doctors will attend practical lectures in Pyongyang aimed at improving provincial healthcare. However, provincial party committee human resources officials have hinted some doctors might be sent abroad, triggering a wave of bribery attempts,” the source explained.
“This program has created tremendous excitement among doctors in their 30s and 40s at provincial hospitals. For provincial doctors, international travel is virtually unattainable, and they view this as potentially their only opportunity,” the source added.
Rumors among medical professionals suggest hospitals are lavishly entertaining well-connected officials to promote certain doctors for the program, with some physicians allegedly already pre-selected.
“Regarding the educational reorganization initiative, a group of chosen teachers will reportedly receive training in Pyongyang. Those familiar with the situation indicate officials intend to select ideologically reliable teachers who maintained strong academic records during their university years,” the source concluded.
April 16, 2025 at 09:38AM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)