North Korea cracks down on school bribery

North Korea cracks down on school bribery

North Korea’s Ministry of Education has singled out North Hamgyong province for a sweeping anti-corruption drive after the province posted some of the country’s worst results in a national student talent competition held in April 2026. Officials blame the poor performance on pervasive bribery in provincial schools, but teachers on the ground say the crackdown ignores the punishing conditions they work under and are now talking about leaving the …