General Secretary and Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea

The General Secretary and Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea is a member of the Secretariat of the Workers' Party of Korea, which is headed by a General Secretary (the name of this office has changed throughout North Korean history).

General Secretaries and forerunners

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Title Officeholder Hangul Birth Death Took office Left office Duration
First Secretary of the North Korean Branch Bureau Kim Yong-bom 김용범 1902 1947 13 October 1945 18 December 1946 1 year and 66 days
First Secretary of the North Korean Branch Bureau Kim Il Sung 김일성 1912 1994 18 December 1946 28 August 1946 2 years and 194 days
First Secretary of the Central Committee Ho Ka-i 허가이 1900 1953 24 June 1949 2 July 1953 4 years and 8 days
Second Secretary of the Central Committee Yi Sung-yop 이성엽 1905 1954 24 June 1949 6 August 1953 4 years and 43 days
Third Secretary of the Central Committee Kim Sam-yong 김삼룡 1908 1950 24 June 1949 27 March 1950 276 days
General Secretary of the Central Committee Kim Il Sung 김일성 1912 1994 12 October 1966 8 July 1994 27 years and 269 days
General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Jong Il 김정일 1941 2011 8 October 1997 17 December 2011 14 years and 70 days
First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Jong Un 김정은 1983 Alive 11 April 2012 9 May 2016 4 years and 28 days
General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Jong Un 김정은 1983 Alive 10 January 2021 Incumbent 3 years and 302 days
References:
[1][2][3][4]

Secretaries

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Rank
[note 1]
Name Hangul Birth Death Took office Left office Duration
9 An Seug-tak 안수탁 ? ? 17 June 1983 ? ?
10 Chae Hi-chong 채희총 ? ? 17 June 1983 ? ?
3 Choe Ryong-hae 최룡해 1950 Alive 28 September 2010 9 May 2016 5 years and 224 days
7 Choe Sang-gon 최상건 1953 Alive 10 January 2021 Incumbent 3 years and 302 days
2 Choe Thae-bok 김기남 1930 Alive 27 December 1986 9 May 2016 29 years and 134 days
1 Choe Yong-gon 최용건 1900 1976 12 October 1966 19 September 1976 9 years and 343 days
Chon Pyong-ho 전병호 1926 2014 27 December 1986 28 September 2010 23 years and 275 days
7 Han Ik-su 한익수 1912 1978 13 November 1970 5 September 1978 7 years and 296 days
Han Son-yong 한성룡 1923 2009 12 December 1988 2009 38 years and 49 days
7 Ho Bong-hak 허봉학 ? ? 12 October 1966 16 November 1968 2 years and 35 days
Ho Dam 허담 1929 1991 1 December 1983 11 May 1991 7 years and 161 days
7 Ho Jong-suk 허정숙 1908 1991 17 June 1983 5 June 1991 ?
7 Hong Si-hak 홍시학 ? ? 14 October 1980 1 December 1983 3 years and 48 days
10 Hong Sok-hyong 홍석형 1936 Alive 28 September 2010 June 2011 246 days
6 Hwang Jang-yop 황장엽 1923 2010 12 December 1979 24 February 1997 17 years and 74 days
8 Hyon Mu-gwang 현무광 1913 1992 13 November 1970 14 October 1980 9 years and 336 days
5 Hyon Mu-kwang 현무광 ? ? 17 June 1983 ? ?
1 Jo Yong-won 조용원 ? Alive 10 January 2021 Incumbent 3 years and 302 days
4 Jong Sang-hak 정상학 ? Alive 10 January 2021 Incumbent 3 years and 302 days
Kang Song-san 강성산 1931 1997 27 December 1986 ?
2 Kim Chung-nin 김중린 1923 2010 13 November 1970 10 December 1984 14 years and 27 days
9 January 1990 28 April 2010 20 years and 109 days
4 Kim Hwan 김영남 ? ? 14 October 1980 17 June 1983 2 years and 246 days
2 Kim Il 김일 1910 1984 12 October 1966 14 October 1980 14 years and 2 days
1 Kim Jong Il 김정일 1942 2011 17 September 1973 8 October 1997 26 years and 329 days
6 Kim Jung-rin 김중린 1923 2010 30 June 1969 14 October 1980 11 years and 106 days
1 Kim Ki-nam 김기남 1929 2024 October 2007 9 May 2016 8 years and 221 days
Kim Kyong-hui 김경희 1946 Alive 11 April 2012 9 May 2016 4 years and 28 days
5 Kim Kwang-hyop 김광협 1915 1970 12 October 1966 July 1970 3 years and 262 days
8 Kim Phyong-hae 김평해 1941 Alive 28 September 2010 9 May 2016 5 years and 224 days
10 Kim To-man 김토만 ? 1967 12 October 1966 8 April 1967 2 years and 35 days
5 Kim Tong-gyu 김동규 1915 ? 13 November 1970 28 November 1978 8 years and 15 days
6 Kim Tu-il 김두일 ? Alive 10 January 2021 Incumbent 3 years and 302 days
7 Kim Yang-gon 김양건 1942 2015 28 September 2010 29 December 2015 5 years and 92 days
6 Kim Yong-il 김영일 1944 Alive 28 September 2010 9 May 2016 5 years and 224 days
8 Kim Yong-ju 김영주 1920 Alive 12 October 1966 11–13 February 1974 7 years and 124 days
2 Kim Yong-nam 김영남 1928 Alive 14 October 1980 17 June 1983 2 years and 246 days
Kim Yong-sun 김용순 1934 2003 23 May 1990 26 October 2003 13 years and 156 days
Kwak Pom-gi 곽범기 1939 Alive 11 April 2012 9 May 2016 4 years and 28 days
Kye Ung-tae 김영남 1920 2006 8 February 1986 23 November 2006 20 years and 288 days
4 Mun Kyong-dok 문경덕 1957 Alive 28 September 2010 9 May 2016 5 years and 224 days
4 O Jin-u 오진우 1917 1995 13 November 1970 14 October 1980 9 years and 336 days
O Su-yong 오수용 1944 Alive 11 February 2021 Incumbent 3 years and 270 days
3 Pak Kum-chol 박금철 1911 1967 12 October 1966 8 April 1967 178 days
Pak Nam-gi 박남기 1934 2010 12 December 1988 9 January 2010 21 years and 28 days
9 Pak Su-dong 박수동 ? ? 14 October 1980 31 August 1982 1 year and 321 days
2 Pak Thae-song 박태성 1955 Alive 10 January 2021 Incumbent 3 years and 302 days
5 Pak To-chun 박도춘 1944 Alive 28 September 2010 9 May 2016 5 years and 224 days
9 Pak Yong-guk 박용국 ? ? 12 October 1966 16 November 1968 2 years and 35 days
5 Ri Il-hwan 리일환 1960 Alive 10 January 2021 Incumbent 3 years and 302 days
3 Ri Pyong-chol 리병철 1948 Alive 10 January 2021 Incumbent 3 years and 302 days
6 Sok San 속산 ? ? 12 October 1966 13 November 1970 4 years and 32 days
So Kwan-hui 서관희 1926 1997 6 October 1981 21 September 1997 15 years and 350 days
8 Son Kwan-hi 손관희 ? ? 17 June 1983 ? ?
9 Thae Jong-su 태종수 1936 Alive 28 September 2010 9 May 2016 5 years and 224 days
9 Yang Hyon-sop 양형섭 1925 Alive 30 June 1969 14 October 1980 11 years and 106 days
4 Yi Hyo-sun 이효선 ? 1967 12 October 1966 8 April 1967 178 days
Yi Kuk-chin 이국진 ? ? 30 June 1969 13 November 1970 1 year and 136 days
6 Yun Ki-bok 윤기복 ? ? 14 October 1980 17 June 1983 2 years and 246 days
9 January 1990 ? ?
References:
[2][3][4]

Noter

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  1. ^ Highest rank the individualattained during tenure.
    The rank does not include the head secretary. For instance, in the 6th Secretariat Kim Jong-il is ranked 1 in this list. Some other lists might rank him as 2 since Kim Il-sung served as General Secretary of the Central Committee.

References

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ Suh 1981, p. 321.
  2. ^ a b Suh 1981, p. 328.
  3. ^ a b Suh 1981, p. 329.
  4. ^ a b Suh 1981, p. 332.

Bibliography

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Books:

  • Gause, Ken (2013). "The Role and Influence of the Party Apparatus". In Park, Kyung-ae; Snyder, Scott (eds.). North Korea in Transition: Politics, Economy, and Society. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 19–46. ISBN 978-1442218123.
  • Suh, Dae-sook (1981). Korean Communism 1945–1980: A Reference Guide to the Political System (1st ed.). University Press of Hawaii. ISBN 0-8248-0740-5.
  • Yonguso, Pyonghwa Tongil (1997). Korea and the World. University of California. Research Center for Peace and Unification.

Journal articles: