In January 2019, Korea University—Chongryon's only higher educational institution—hosted its first exchange program with U.S. students from DePauw University. The program was organized by DePauw University Professor Derek Ford, West Chester University of Pennsylvania Professor Curry Malott and Kiyul Chung, a Professor at Korea University, the only person born in the southern half of the peninsula to teach at Kim Il-Sung University in the DPRK, and founder of the 21st Century International Relations Institute. A total of 14 U.S. students and two U.S. professors went on the trip, where they spent time with Korea University students and professors, as well as primary, middle, and high school students from other Chongryon affiliated schools. Additionally, they met with Chongryon chapters and toured important cultural sites of Koreans in Japan, including the infamous tunnels the Japanese forced Koreans to dig during World War II.