university was an important asset of for the Korean People's Army to train its personnel. Since the 1970s, English courses have been taught at the university. Until 2004, Pak Kwan-o, an authority on nuclear physics and current Chairman of the People's Committee of Pyongyang (de facto Mayor), had been serving as the president for 17 years. Since 2009, its president was Song Ja-reeb. The current president since 2014 is Thae Hyong-chol. In May 2010, Pyongyang Medical College, Sariwon Kye Ung Sang Agricultural College and Pyongyang Agricultural College were made elements of the Kim Il Sung University Council, however, those three institutions seceded were later removed in October 2019. According to Korean Central Television, North Korean students can take classes at and download lectures from Kim Il-sung University via the Mirae public WiFi network, beginning in 2018. International students Kim Il-sung University first began admitting international students in 1995; as of 2019, about 5000 international students from 30 countries have studied at the university. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were estimated to be about 100 foreign students at Kim Il-Sung University, the majority of whom were Chinese. International students at Kim Il-Sung University live alongside specially trained and vetted local students called tongsuksaeng, who are ostensibly there to act as hosts and to teach the Korean language and culture, but in reality served to spy on the international students, through going through their belongings and tracking their movements. Foreign students seeking to undertake postgraduate studies at Kim Il-Sung University are required to provide their birth certificate, a letter of intent, their undergraduate certificate(s), a police certificate stating that the applicant does not have a criminal record in their home country, medical records certifying the applicant had a recent health examination, details of their financial background to show how they will be financing their education in North Korea, as well as a letter vouching for the applicant's Korean language ability. Departments Social sciences Finance Foreign languages and Literature Economics History Korean language and Literature Law Philosophy Natural sciences Chemistry Electronics and Automation Energy Science Forest Science Geography Geo-environmental Science Geology Computer Science Life Science Materials Science Mathematics Mechanics Physics Others Distance Education Education Notable alumni An Kyong-ho, Chief Director of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland Kim Jong-il, former leader of North Korea, attended 1960–1964 Kim Jong-un, Supreme Leader of North Korea since December 2011, may have attended