8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
8th Central Committee | |
---|---|
![]() Emblem of the Workers' Party of North Korea | |
10 January 2021 – present (351 days) | |
Overview | |
Decision making body | Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea |
Election | 8th Congress |
Members | 139 |
Alternate members | 111 |
Officers | |
General Secretary | Kim Jong-un |
Presidium | 5 |
Politburo | 19 full 11 alt. |
Secretariat | 8 |
Auditing Commission | 15 |
Military Commission | 13 |
Politics of North Korea |
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The 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was elected at the party's 8th Congress on 10 January 2021, and will sit until the convocation of the next party congress.[1] In between party congresses and specially convened conferences the Central Committee is the highest decision-making institution in the WPK and North Korea.[2] The Central Committee is not a permanent institution and delegates day-to-day work to the Presidium, the Politburo, the Secretariat, the Central Military Commission and the Central Auditing Commission.[2][3] It convenes meetings, known as "Plenary Session of the [term] Central Committee", to discuss major policies.[4] Only full members have the right to vote, but if a full member cannot attend a plenary session, the person's spot is taken over by an alternate.[4] Plenary session can also be attended by non-members, such meetings are known as "Enlarged Plenary Session", to participate in the committee's discussions.[4]
Plenums[]
Plenum | Start–end | Length | Meeting agenda |
---|---|---|---|
1st Plenary Session | 10 January 2021 | 1 day | 2 items.
|
2nd Plenary Session | 8–11 February 2021 | 4 day | 5 items.
|
Department directors[]
Institution | Name | Took office | Left office | Tenure |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ri Chol-man | 10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 351 days | |
Ho Chol-man | 10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 351 days | |
Pak Thae-dok | 10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 351 days | |
Kim Tu-il | 10 January 2021 | 11 February 2021 | 32 days | |
O Su-yong | 11 February 2021 | Incumbent | 319 days | |
Kim Yong-su | 10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 351 days | |
10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 351 days | ||
10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 351 days | ||
Pak Myong-sun | 10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 351 days | |
O Il-jong | 10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 351 days | |
10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 351 days | ||
Organization and Guidance Department | Kim Jae-ryong | 10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 351 days |
United Front Department | Kim Yong-chol | 10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 351 days |
Ri Il-hwan | 10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 351 days | |
Unknown | Choe Hwi | 10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 351 days |
Pak Jong-nam | ||||
Members[]
Rank | Name Hangul |
Level of government | 7th CC | Inner-composition | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8th PRE | 8th POL | 8th SEC | 8th CMC | 8th CAC | ||||
1 | Kim Jong-un | Central
|
Old | Member | Member | Gen. Sec. | Chairman | —
|
2 | Choe Ryong-hae | Central
|
Old | Member | Member | —
|
—
|
—
|
3 | Ri Pyong-chol | Central
|
Old | Member | Member | Member | V. Chairman | —
|
4 | Kim Tok-hun | Central |
Old | Member | Member | —
|
—
|
—
|
5 | Kim Jae-ryong | Central
|
Old | —
|
Member | —
|
—
|
—
|
6 | Ri Il-hwan | —
|
Old | —
|
Member | Member | —
|
—
|
7 | Choe Hwi | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
8 | Pak Thae-dok | —
|
Old | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
V. Chairman |
9 | Kim Yong-chol | —
|
Old | —
|
Member | —
|
—
|
—
|
10 | Ho Chol-man | —
|
New | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
11 | —
|
New | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
| |
12 | Pak Myong-sun | —
|
New | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
13 | Choe Sang-gon | —
|
Old | —
|
Member | Member | —
|
—
|
14 | O Il-jong | —
|
New | —
|
Member | —
|
Member | —
|
15 | Kim Yong-su | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
16 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
17 | Central |
Alternate | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
| |
18 | Jo Yong-won | —
|
Old | Member | Member | Member | Member | —
|
19 | Ri Hi-yong | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
V. Chairman |
20 | Pak Thae-song | Central
|
Old | —
|
Member | Member | —
|
—
|
21 | Kim Yo-jong | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
22 | Ri Yong-sik | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
23 | Central
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
24 | Hong Sung-mu | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
25 | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
26 | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
27 | —
|
New | —
|
Member | Member | —
|
Chairman | |
28 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
29 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Member | |
30 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
31 | Hyon Song-wol | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
32 | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
33 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
34 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
Member | —
| |
35 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Member | |
36 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
37 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Member | |
38 | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
39 | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
40 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
41 | Pak Jong-nam | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
42 | Kim Song-chol | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Member |
43 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Member | |
44 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Member | |
45 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
46 | Central |
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
47 | Thae Hyong-chol | Central
|
Old | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
48 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
49 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Member | |
50 | —
|
Old | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
| |
51 | O Su-yong | Central
|
Old | —
|
Member | —
|
Member | —
|
52 | Kim Yong-hwan | —
|
New | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
53 | Kim Tu-il | Central
|
Old | —
|
Member | Member | —
|
—
|
54 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
55 | Mun Kyong-dok | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
56 | Ri Chol-man | —
|
Old | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
57 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
58 | Kang Pong-hun | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
59 | Kim Chol-sam | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
60 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
61 | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
62 | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
63 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
64 | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
65 | Ri Son-gwon | —
|
Old | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
66 | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
67 | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
68 | Kang Jong-gwan | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
69 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
70 | Central |
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
71 | Central |
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
72 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
73 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
74 | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
75 | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
76 | Kim Sung-du | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
77 | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Member | |
78 | Central
|
Alternate | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
| |
79 | Central |
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
80 | Central |
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
81 | Central |
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
82 | Ri Yong-gil | —
|
Old | —
|
Member | —
|
Member | —
|
83 | Jong Kyong-thaek | —
|
New | —
|
Member | —
|
Member | —
|
84 | Jang Jong-nam | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
85 | Kim Kwang-chol | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Member |
86 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Member | |
87 | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Member | |
88 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Member | |
89 | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
90 | Ri Hong-sop | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
91 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
92 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
93 | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
94 | Central
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
95 | Central |
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
96 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
97 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
98 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
99 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
100 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
101 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
102 | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
103 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
104 | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
105 | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
106 | No Kwang-chol | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
107 | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
108 | Central
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
109 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
110 | Pak Jong-chon | —
|
Old | —
|
Member | —
|
Member | —
|
111 | Kim Su-gil | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
112 | Kim Jong-gwan | —
|
Old | —
|
Member | —
|
Member | —
|
113 | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
114 | Pang Tu-sop | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
115 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
Member | —
| |
116 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
117 | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
Member | —
| |
118 | So Hong-chan | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
119 | Kwon Yong-jin | —
|
New | —
|
Member | —
|
Member | —
|
120 | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
121 | Pak Yong-il | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
122 | Kim Myong-sik | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
123 | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
124 | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
125 | Pak Su-il | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
126 | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
127 | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
128 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
129 | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
130 | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
131 | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
132 | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
133 | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
134 | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
135 | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
136 | —
|
Alternate | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
137 | —
|
Old | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
138 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
| |
139 | —
|
New | —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Alternates[]
Rank | Name Hangul |
Level of government | 7th CC |
---|---|---|---|
1 | —
|
Old | |
2 | —
|
New | |
3 | —
|
New | |
4 | —
|
New | |
5 | Ri Ryong-nam | —
|
Old |
6 | Central |
Old | |
7 | —
|
Old | |
8 | Wang Chang-uk | —
|
Old |
9 | —
|
New | |
10 | Kang Chol-gu | —
|
New |
11 | —
|
New | |
12 | Central
|
New | |
13 | Central
|
New | |
14 | Choe Son-hui | —
|
New |
15 | —
|
Old | |
16 | —
|
Old | |
17 | —
|
Old | |
18 | —
|
New | |
19 | Central |
New | |
20 | Central |
New | |
21 | Central
|
New | |
22 | Central |
New | |
23 | Central |
New | |
24 | Jang Kyong-il | Central |
New |
25 | Central |
New | |
26 | Central |
New | |
27 | Central |
New | |
28 | —
|
New | |
29 | Central |
New | |
30 | Central |
New | |
31 | —
|
New | |
32 | —
|
New | |
33 | —
|
New | |
34 | Central |
New | |
35 | —
|
New | |
36 | —
|
New | |
37 | Pak In-chol | —
|
New |
38 | —
|
New | |
39 | —
|
Old | |
40 | —
|
New | |
41 | —
|
New | |
42 | Kang Hyong-bong | —
|
Old |
43 | —
|
Old | |
44 | —
|
Old | |
45 | —
|
New | |
46 | —
|
New | |
47 | —
|
New | |
48 | —
|
New | |
49 | —
|
New | |
50 | —
|
New | |
51 | —
|
New | |
52 | Kim Yong-nam | —
|
Old |
53 | —
|
New | |
54 | —
|
Old | |
55 | —
|
New | |
56 | —
|
New | |
57 | —
|
New | |
58 | —
|
New | |
59 | —
|
New | |
60 | —
|
New | |
61 | —
|
New | |
62 | —
|
New | |
63 | —
|
Old | |
64 | —
|
Old | |
65 | —
|
New | |
66 | —
|
New | |
67 | —
|
Old | |
68 | —
|
Old | |
69 | —
|
Old | |
70 | —
|
New | |
71 | —
|
New | |
72 | —
|
New | |
73 | —
|
Old | |
74 | —
|
New | |
75 | —
|
Old | |
76 | —
|
New | |
77 | —
|
New | |
78 | —
|
New | |
79 | —
|
New | |
80 | —
|
New | |
81 | —
|
New | |
82 | —
|
New | |
83 | —
|
Old | |
84 | —
|
New | |
85 | Myong Song-chol | —
|
Old |
86 | —
|
Old | |
87 | —
|
New | |
88 | —
|
New | |
89 | —
|
New | |
90 | —
|
New | |
91 | —
|
Old | |
92 | —
|
New | |
93 | —
|
Old | |
94 | O Kum-chol | —
|
Old |
95 | —
|
Old | |
96 | —
|
New | |
97 | —
|
Old | |
98 | —
|
New | |
99 | —
|
Old | |
100 | —
|
New | |
101 | Kim Jong-chol | —
|
New |
102 | —
|
Old | |
103 | —
|
New | |
104 | —
|
New | |
105 | —
|
New | |
106 | —
|
Old | |
107 | —
|
New | |
108 | —
|
New | |
109 | Kim Yong-ho | —
|
New |
110 | —
|
New | |
111 | —
|
New |
Changes (2021–26)[]
Name Hangul |
Level of government (Offices held) |
7th CC | Inner-composition | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 PL (2021) |
N PL (202?) | |||
—
|
New | Alternate | —
| |
—
|
New | Alternate | —
| |
—
|
New | Alternate | —
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References[]
Citations[]
- ^ "Sixth-Day Sitting of 8th WPK Congress Held". Korean Central News Agency. 11 January 2021. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021 – via KCNA Watch.
- ^ a b Suh 1981, p. 271.
- ^ "WPK Rules Revised at 8th Congress of WPK". DPRK Today. Korean Central News Agency. 11 January 2021. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021 – via KCNA Watch.
- ^ a b c Suh 1981, p. 277.
- ^ "First plenum of Eighth WPK Central Committee presided by General Secretary Kim Jong Un". Pyongyang Times. Korean Central News Agency. 11 January 2021. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021 – via KCNA Watch.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Press release of First Plenary Meeting of Eighth WPK Central Committee issued". Pyongyang Times. Korean Central News Agency. 11 January 2021. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021 – via KCNA Watch.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Report on Second Plenary Meeting of Eighth Central Committee of WPK". Pyongyang Times. Korean Central News Agency. 12 February 2021. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021 – via KCNA Watch.
Sources[]
- General
References for plenary sessions, apparatus heads, the Central Committee full- and alternate membership, Politburo membership, Presidium membership, secretaries, Central Military Commission members, membership in the Central Auditing Commission, offices an individual held, retirement, if the individual in question is military personnel, female, has been expelled, is currently under investigation or has retired:
- Staff writer (11 January 2021). "First plenum of Eighth WPK Central Committee presided by General Secretary Kim Jong Un". Korean Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021 – via KCNA Watch.
- Staff writer (12 April 2019). "In full: promotions and demotions at North Korea's 14th SPA". NK News. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021 – via KCNA Watch.
- Staff writer (18 January 2021). "Members of DPRK Cabinet Appointed". Korean Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021 – via KCNA Watch.
- Staff writer (11 January 2021). "Press Release of 8th Congress of WPK". Korean Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021 – via KCNA Watch.
- Staff writer (11 January 2021). "Press release of First Plenary Meeting of Eighth WPK Central Committee issued". Pyongyang Times. Korean Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- Bibliography
- 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.
- 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
- 2021 establishments in North Korea