Another Successful Year
January 2024 marked the third anniversary of North Korea’s border closure. In the years that have passed, the world outside has reopened and readjusted to a post-Covid reality. Whilst the borders remain closed to (most) foreigners, life in North Korea has also adjusted to their own post-Covid reality. The pandemic and its outcomes have impacted us all in different ways and North Korea is no exception. While international reports vary on the state of affairs in-country, we are pleased to report no drop in enthusiasm and attendance for our online education programmes, which have now entered their third year.
When the pandemic worsened in 2020, our operations were confronted with immediate and severe disruptions. We brainstormed our options with our volunteers and Korean partners, united by a shared determination to keep our mission running.
Three years on, our programmes with budding North Korean entrepreneurs continue to thrive in the digital space. We are pleased to report the successful completion of 3 online education programmes in 2023, reaching over hundreds of students directly and hundreds more indirectly through our content distribution network. We look forward to continuing our efforts in 2024 with even more online sessions and a prospective return to in-country engagement.
PCM6 & PCM7
Working closely with our partners in Pyongyang and abroad, our Project ChangeMakers (PCM) programmes delivers lectures on entrepreneurship live to students in Pyongyang. Our PCM journey has covered everything from entrepreneurship in the post-covid world to running small businesses such as restaurants. Check out our full suite of past sessions on our programmes page.
In Q2 of 2023, we delivered PCM’s 6th iteration titled ‘Innovation for Education in Entrepreneurship’. This programme sought to illustrate the relationship between education and entrepreneurship for our students in Pyongyang. Our volunteer lecturers introduced exemplary education systems in Switzerland and Singapore, demonstrating how critical thinking is crucial for creating entrepreneurial outcomes for both individuals and society. Over 60 students attended the lecture live, readily asking questions on how they might apply concepts such as lifelong learning to their immediate environments.
Screenshot of PCM6: Innovation for Education in Entrepreneurship
During the third quarter, our volunteers and lecturers presented the 7th iteration of our PCM programme, focusing on the significance of strong institutions in shaping entrepreneurial outcomes. Collaborating with experts from esteemed universities, PCM7 used case studies from Singapore and abroad to demonstrate how strong business networks are built on accountability and trust at the individual and state level.
PCM7 was conducted through recorded sessions accessible via our content distribution network across North Korea, strategically established in collaboration with our partners. These sessions contribute to the expansion of our online content library, a project that has been growing steadily over the past 4 years.
PCM9
To conclude 2023, we recently presented PCM9: Innovation in Sustainability and Environmental Entrepreneurship, featuring presentations by two experts in sustainable development from the National University of Singapore and the World Bank. It may come as a surprise to many that North Korea is actively involved in both domestic and international initiatives addressing climate change. This is a unique opportunity to present an entrepreneurial perspective on sustainability for our partners and students.
North Korea’s strong interest in agricultural innovation allowed us to explore how businesses, governments and the environment itself can collaborate to solve pressing challenges. Students were involved in a productive discussion on how entrepreneurs can come up with their long-term sustainable approaches to business that also protect their local environment.
Screenshot of live session during PCM9: Sub-National and Local Innovations in Sustainability Practice
Both sessions emphasized the role of innovation and real-world experience in creating positive outcomes, with a particular focus on the importance of individual action and initiative.
Screenshot of live session during PCM9: Creating Impact from Innovation in the Environment
Continuing our Content Library
Perhaps the greatest opportunity of 2023 has been organising and distributing our new content library. Since beginning our online programmes in early 2020, we have delivered and recorded over 40 individual sessions with our expert lecturers. As all this content has been tailored for our unique North Korean audience, it remains highly replicable and in-demand for distribution beyond our immediate live audience. We currently maintain a digital content library in which session recordings and additional material (such as presentations and infographics) created by Choson Exchange are distributed for viewing by secondary audiences in North Korea.
Some of our lecturers may even return to Pyongyang as recognised names within our audience circle because of their repeated contributions to our programmes and their popularity with our students. We are currently exploring methods to advance accessibility of our content library for more students inside North Korea.
Opportunities for 2024
New audiences and partnerships
In 2023, we designed our programmes with the objective of creating a captivating learning experience that could attract both live and asynchronous students. The sessions aligned with Choson Exchange's core values, placing emphasis on innovation, real-world experience , and the value of entrepreneurship. These efforts aim to share valuable knowledge and engage a fresh and influential audience through live sessions. Our core students now include senior policy makers alongside other significant target groups such as students, decision-makers, and the next generation of young North Korean entrepreneurs.
Demonstrating our commitment to expanding partnerships, we successfully established connections with new institutions such as the Singapore Management University, IE Business School in Madrid, Spain, National University of Singapore, and the World Bank. This collaborative approach positions us to explore new horizons and broaden our impact in the coming endeavours.
Border reopening, aiming to return in 2024
Eagerly anticipating the potential border reopening in 2024, we embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. With plans already in motion, we are poised to re-engage with our audience with both in-country, overseas and online programs in 2024.
