General Secretary and Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea explained

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

TitleOfficeholderHangulBirthDeathTook officeLeft officeDuration
First Secretary of the North Korean Branch BureauKim Yong-bom김용범1902194713 October 194518 December 1946
First Secretary of the North Korean Branch BureauKim Il Sung김일성1912199418 December 194628 August 1946
First Secretary of the Central CommitteeHo Ka-i허가이1900195324 June 19492 July 1953
Second Secretary of the Central CommitteeYi Sung-yop이성엽1905195424 June 19496 August 1953
Third Secretary of the Central CommitteeKim Sam-yong김삼룡1908195024 June 194927 March 1950
General Secretary of the Central CommitteeKim Il Sung김일성1912199412 October 19668 July 1994
General Secretary of the Workers' Party of KoreaKim Jong Il김정일194120118 October 199717 December 2011
First Secretary of the Workers' Party of KoreaKim Jong Un김정은1983Alive11 April 20129 May 2016
General Secretary of the Workers' Party of KoreaKim Jong Un김정은1983Alive10 January 2021Incumbent
References:

Secretaries

Rank
[1]
NameHangulBirthDeathTook officeLeft officeDuration
9An Seug-tak안수탁??17 June 1983??
10Chae Hi-chong채희총??17 June 1983??
3Choe Ryong-hae최룡해1950Alive28 September 20109 May 2016
7Choe Sang-gon최상건1953Alive10 January 2021 Incumbent
2Choe Thae-bok김기남1930Alive27 December 1986 9 May 2016
1Choe Yong-gon최용건1900197612 October 196619 September 1976
Chon Pyong-ho전병호1926201427 December 198628 September 2010
7Han Ik-su한익수1912197813 November 19705 September 1978
Han Son-yong한성룡1923200912 December 19882009
7Ho Bong-hak허봉학??12 October 196616 November 1968
Ho Dam허담192919911 December 198311 May 1991
7Ho Jong-suk허정숙1908199117 June 19835 June 1991?
7Hong Si-hak홍시학??14 October 19801 December 1983
10Hong Sok-hyong홍석형1936Alive28 September 2010June 2011
6Hwang Jang-yop황장엽1923201012 December 197924 February 1997
8Hyon Mu-gwang현무광1913199213 November 197014 October 1980
5Hyon Mu-kwang현무광??17 June 1983??
1Jo Yong-won조용원?Alive10 January 2021 Incumbent
4Jong Sang-hak정상학?Alive10 January 2021 Incumbent
Kang Song-san강성산1931199727 December 1986 ?
2Kim Chung-nin김중린1923201013 November 197010 December 1984
9 January 199028 April 2010
4Kim Hwan김영남??14 October 198017 June 1983
2Kim Il김일1910198412 October 196614 October 1980
1Kim Jong Il김정일1942201117 September 19738 October 1997
6Kim Jung-rin김중린1923201030 June 196914 October 1980
1Kim Ki-nam김기남19292024October 20079 May 2016
Kim Kyong-hui김경희1946Alive11 April 20129 May 2016
5Kim Kwang-hyop김광협1915197012 October 1966July 1970
8Kim Phyong-hae김평해1941Alive28 September 20109 May 2016
10Kim To-man김토만 ?196712 October 19668 April 1967
5Kim Tong-gyu김동규1915?13 November 197028 November 1978
6Kim Tu-il김두일?Alive10 January 2021 Incumbent
7Kim Yang-gon김양건1942201528 September 201029 December 2015
6Kim Yong-il김영일1944Alive28 September 20109 May 2016
8Kim Yong-ju김영주1920Alive12 October 196611–13 February 1974
2Kim Yong-nam김영남1928Alive14 October 198017 June 1983
Kim Yong-sun김용순1934200323 May 199026 October 2003
Kwak Pom-gi곽범기1939Alive11 April 20129 May 2016
Kye Ung-tae김영남192020068 February 198623 November 2006
4Mun Kyong-dok문경덕1957Alive28 September 20109 May 2016
4O Jin-u오진우1917199513 November 197014 October 1980
O Su-yong오수용1944Alive11 February 2021 Incumbent
3Pak Kum-chol박금철1911196712 October 19668 April 1967
Pak Nam-gi박남기1934201012 December 19889 January 2010
9Pak Su-dong박수동??14 October 198031 August 1982
2Pak Thae-song박태성1955Alive10 January 2021 Incumbent
5Pak To-chun박도춘1944Alive28 September 20109 May 2016
9Pak Yong-guk박용국??12 October 196616 November 1968
5Ri Il-hwan리일환1960Alive10 January 2021 Incumbent
3Ri Pyong-chol리병철1948Alive10 January 2021 Incumbent
6Sok San속산??12 October 196613 November 1970
So Kwan-hui서관희192619976 October 198121 September 1997
8Son Kwan-hi손관희 ??17 June 1983??
9Thae Jong-su태종수1936Alive28 September 20109 May 2016
9Yang Hyon-sop양형섭1925Alive30 June 196914 October 1980
4Yi Hyo-sun이효선?196712 October 19668 April 1967
Yi Kuk-chin이국진 ??30 June 196913 November 1970
6Yun Ki-bok윤기복??14 October 198017 June 1983
9 January 1990??
References:

Noter

  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

Bibliography

Books:

Journal articles: