Hamhung University of Chemical Industry, located in Hamhung, North Korea, is among the most prominent institutions dedicated to the field of chemical industry in the country. Hamhung, as a city, has a significant historical and industrial relevance, being the second-largest city in North Korea after the capital, Pyongyang. However, due to the country's stringent travel policies and its isolated status on the global stage, the history of tourism to institutions like the Hamhung University of Chemical Industry is very limited.
While tourism in North Korea is tightly controlled and often staged to show a certain perspective of the country, visits to educational and scientific establishments such as Hamhung University of Chemical Industry are not typically a part of standard tourist itineraries. This is in part due to the government's prioritization of showcasing monuments, historical sites, and cultural performances over academic institutions.
Historically, Hamhung has not been widely recognized as a tourist destination, even within the small scope of North Korea's tourism industry. Most visitors to North Korea are restricted to pre-approved tours that generally focus on Pyongyang and the DMZ, with only a fraction of those tourists venturing as far as Hamhung.
That being said, Hamhung does offer some attractions for the select few who are permitted to visit the area, such as the majestic Hamhung Grand Theatre and the historical Dongbong Co-Operative Farm. However, guided tours to these sites are carefully orchestrated and must conform to strict government regulations.
As for the latest tourism trends related to the Hamhung University of Chemical Industry, they remain virtually non-existent due to North Korea's overarching travel constraints. International tourism to North Korea has been heavily impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic, with the country closing its borders to tourists in early 2020. Only time will tell if and when tourism will resume and to what extent visitors will be allowed to explore educational sites like Hamhung University of Chemical Industry.
Any potential tourism to such institutions would likely be part of specialized educational tours oriented towards academics or professionals in the field of chemical industry, permitted only under exceptional circumstances and with explicit government sanction.
In summary, while the Hamhung University of Chemical Industry holds significance within North Korea for its academic contributions to the chemical industry, it remains an unlikely focal point for tourism in the present day. Due to the political climate and the country's approach to international visitors, opportunities to tour academic institutions such as this remain scarce and woefully underrepresented in tourism literature pertaining to North Korea.