North Korea’s music boarding program is gaining momentum as students now live with their tutors to learn instruments. This new approach reflects rising demand for private music education despite official restrictions.
In North Hamgyong Province, an accordion tutor in Rason’s Sonbong district offers five students room, board, and lessons. Tutoring fees vary from 120 to 300 Chinese yuan per month, roughly $17 to $42. In rural areas, some parents pay with goods such as 30 to 40 kilograms of corn. Boarding fees add extra costs, yet parents continue to enroll their children.
Private music lessons are technically banned in North Korea, viewed as promoting a “capitalistic lifestyle.” Nevertheless, parents increasingly seek these lessons to enhance their children’s social standing and career prospects. Playing an instrument earns credits in socialist organizations and secures favorable military or workplace assignments.
Students skilled in instruments like the accordion or guitar often avoid demanding military roles and gain recognition in work organizations. Instruments are integral to propaganda, and musicians frequently join mobile propaganda teams for major state projects. These include rice planting, harvest activities, and construction sites.
The music boarding program accelerates learning, making it popular among families aiming to improve their children’s opportunities. Private tutors also organize monthly talent shows, showcasing student progress to parents and reinforcing the value of their investment. These performances reflect techniques usually used in state-run art schools and provincial arts groups.
Tutors navigate the legal risks of private teaching by using connections or bribes, allowing the program to flourish despite government restrictions. Experts note that the music boarding program illustrates broader societal trends where cultural skills intersect with political and career advancement.
As North Korea continues to prioritize propaganda and ideological education, music boarding programs are likely to expand. This development highlights how private education adapts to meet both family ambitions and state objectives.
