Reforming North Korean Education in a Post-Kim Era: From Indoctrination to Transformation

Explore how North Korea's education system indoctrinates children from kindergarten and why post-Kim reform must begin with de-ideologizing the classroom.

Key Insights

• North Korea's early education system functions as a tool for political indoctrination, embedding loyalty to the Kim family and anti-capitalist propaganda from kindergarten onward.

  
  

• The 2022 textbook “Flower Petals” provides rare insight into how fear, mythology, and misinformation are instilled in children to support regime ideology and suppress critical thought.

  
  

• Post-Kim educational reform must prioritize truth, critical thinking, and psychological healing, starting with curriculum de-ideologization and teacher retraining.

  
  

• A phased framework involving global partnerships, civic education, and safe spaces for dialogue is essential for helping North Korean society transition from control to courage.

In rebuilding North Korea in a post-Kim era, one of the most urgent and foundational reforms will be in its education system. The release of a 2022 kindergarten textbook titled "Flower Petals," obtained by Daily NK, provides rare and sobering insight into how deeply political indoctrination is embedded into early childhood learning in the DPRK. To build a new society that values truth, critical thinking, and human dignity, education must be the starting point of reform.

The Current Landscape: Indoctrination from the Start

"Flower Petals" is a state-issued textbook aimed at 6- and 7-year-old children. Through idealized narratives of the Kim family—Kim Il Sung teaching children to resist Japanese imperialism, Kim Jong Il venerating the “people’s army,” and Kim Jong Un delivering educational toys—the regime implants its personality cult at the most impressionable stage of childhood development.

The textbook does not stop at glorifying leadership. It frames capitalist societies as chaotic and violent, featuring stories like “Is it a joke, or is it murder?”—a tale of a five-year-old in a “capitalist country” who fatally shoots his brother, used to contrast North Korea’s supposed moral superiority.

Why Educational Reform Must Lead Post-Kim Transition

In a post-Kim society, the task will not be merely to replace curriculum materials—it will be to reconstruct the very purpose of education. Reclaiming education from propaganda means fostering a generation capable of independent thought, social responsibility, and global citizenship.

There are three primary reasons why education must be the centerpiece of reform:

1. Early Indoctrination Has Lasting Impact: The psychological foundation set in early childhood can shape a person’s worldview for life. Undoing this will require intentional re-education strategies that start with empathy, healing, and critical reflection.

   
   

2. A Society Cannot Rebuild Without Thinkers: For North Korea to transition to a peaceful, functional, and just society, it will need citizens equipped to question, to innovate, and to participate in civic life. That starts with schools.

   
   

3. Children Deserve Truth: Perhaps most simply, children deserve to be nurtured with honesty, not deception. They deserve to learn about the world not through the lens of fear and fabricated greatness, but through curiosity, courage, and integrity.

A Framework for Reform

A reformed North Korean education system must be rooted in dignity, truth, and empowerment. The following framework could guide the transformation:

1. De-ideologization of Curriculum

Remove propaganda from textbooks and replace it with age-appropriate, evidence-based content. History, for instance, should be taught with transparency—acknowledging both the pain of colonization and the complexity of Korea’s division, without mythologizing political figures.

2. Introduction of Critical Thinking

Introduce inquiry-based learning methods, where children are encouraged to ask questions and explore multiple perspectives. This can begin even in kindergarten through simple, open-ended storytelling, collaborative problem-solving, and play-based exploration.

3. Teacher Retraining and Support

Teachers will be the frontline agents of change. Many will themselves be products of indoctrination. A national retraining program—focused on pedagogy, trauma-informed education, and democratic values—will be essential.

4. Global Collaboration and Cultural Exchange

Partnering with international educational organizations can help develop a new curriculum, provide resources, and build bridges with the global community. Cultural exchange programs, even in digital forms, can begin to normalize global awareness.

5. Safe Spaces for Dialogue and Healing

Both students and educators will need spaces to process the trauma of ideological manipulation. Community-based education initiatives—learning circles, storytelling projects, and intergenerational dialogues—can support healing alongside learning.

From Indoctrination to Transformation

The Daily NK report reminds us just how early and how thoroughly fear is embedded into the North Korean psyche. When children bow to portraits and sing songs of loyalty to leaders they've never met, believing they are the happiest on earth, it reflects not joy—but fear and control.

Author: B.J. Choi, founder of NVNK, obtained his Master's degree in Asian Studies from the George Washington University. He previously worked for the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (WWICS), and Cornerstone Ministries International (CMI) on North Korea issues.