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I'm an american currently teaching Undergrad level CS in pyongyang. Most of the students here know that they want to work at one of the two government research
by willscott 13y ago
I'm an american currently teaching Undergrad level CS in pyongyang.
Most of the students here know that they want to work at one of the two government research labs: Korean Computing Center, or Pyongyang Information Center. One of the Seniors told me he thinks he has an 80% chance of getting a job where he has access to the internet and an email address for communication.
Many of the anecdotes in the article fit with what I've seen here. I've been told that the going rate to get in to the top high school in pyongyang is about $5000US. One of the government liaisons working at the university studied Malaysian in college, and got told that there were too many Malaysian speakers when he graduated and was assigned to our university instead.
I think the main takeaway is that everything here is based on connections and who you know.
- __pThrow 13y agoHow did you get to NK, and ... why?
- EliRivers 13y agoWhilst I can't speak for the OP, I got there on an aeroplane and left on a train. The means of getting there are pretty standard :)
- lunaru 13y agoYour first sentence blew my mind. I've read lots of incredible things on HN (billion dollar acquisitions, drones that ship products, self driving cars), but for some reason this comment steals the show. Too many questions flooding into my head... for starters, how are you online right now?
- willscott 13y agoThe campus has internet access for professors and graduate students. There is an egyptian joint venture company in pyongyang that provides both wired and cell internet access.
- mathattack 13y ago$5000 to enter a top high school? It shows how little currency there is there! In some US cities $5K won't pay for the admissions consultant, let alone the first 3 months of tuition! And yes, it seems fascinating that someone from NK could write on a public forum. I would think that it's very censored, no? But is that just my view of a situation that I know nothing about?
- htfdygtnk 13y agoPlease do tell us how you found a job in NK.