Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea
| Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea | |
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| Revised Romanization | Chosŏn Rodongdang Chungang Wiwŏnhoe Chŏngch'igung |
| McCune–Reischauer | Joseon Rodongdang Jungang Wiwonhoe Jeongchigung |
Politics of North Korea |
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The Politburo, officially the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), formerly the Political Committee (1946–61), is the highest decision-making body in the party between sessions of the Central Committee. Article 25 of the Party Charter stipulates that "The Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee and its Standing Committee organize and direct all party work on behalf of the party Central Committee between plenary meetings. The Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee shall meet at least once every month."[1] The Politburo is elected by the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.
History[]
Until April 1956, the Politburo was known as the Political Council.[2] After Kim Il-sung's unitary ruling system was established in the 1960s, the Politburo was transformed from a decision-making body where policies could be discussed into a rubber stamp body.[3] Leading members have disappeared without explanation; the last was Kim Tong-gyu, in 1977.[4] Politburo members under Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il lacked a strong power base, and depended on the party leader for their position.[4] Because of this, the Politburo became a loyal servant of the party leader.[4]
The Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) of the Workers' Party of Korea was established at the 6th Congress in 1980, and became the highest WPK body when the Politburo and the Central Committee were not in session.[5] With the death of O Jin-u in 1995, Kim Jong-il remained the only member of the Politburo Standing Committee still alive; the four others (Kim Il-sung, Kim Il, O Jin-u, and Ri Jong-ok) died in office.[6] Between O Jin-u's death and the 3rd Conference, there were no reports indicating that Kim Jong-il or the central party leadership was planning to renew the PSC composition.[7]
Similar to the Central Committee, the Politburo was dormant during much of Kim Jong-il's rule;[8] however, the 3rd Conference elected new Politburo members.[8] While many foreign observers believed it would signify a generational shift, it did not; the youngest member was 53 years old, and the average age was 74 (with 12 over age 80).[8] The majority of new members were aides to Kim Jong-il or Kim family members.[8] Kim Kyong-hui (Kim Jong-il's sister) and Jang Song-thaek (Kim Kyong-hui's husband) were appointed full and candidate member, respectively.[8] Several of Jang's proteges were elected candidate members, including Ju Sang-song (Minister of People's Security), U Tong-chuk (First Deputy Director of the State Security Department) and Choe Ryong-hae (Secretary for Military Affairs).[8] (First Deputy Head of the Organization and Guidance Department), a leading facilitator of Kim Jong-un's succession, was appointed a candidate member.[8] Most of the new members were cabinet members, military officials, party secretaries or officials from the security establishment.[8] Ten members from the National Defense Commission and three deputy premiers were appointed to the Politbüro.[8] Leading economic experts (such as and Tae Jong-su) and foreign experts (such as Kang Sok-ju, Kim Yong-il and Kim Yang-gon) became members.[8] At the 4th Conference, one-third of the Politburo was dismissed in unannounced retirements and dismissals.[9] Jang Song-thaek, Pak To-chun and Vice Marshal Kim Jong-gak were promoted from candidate to full membership; Hyon Chol-hae, Kim Won-hong and Ri Myong-su, all members of the Central Military Commission, were appointed to full Politburo membership.[10] Kwak Pom-gi, O Kuk-ryol, Ro Tu-chol, Ri Pyong-sam and Jo Yon-jun were elected candidate members.[10]
Role[]
Officially, the Politburo is responsible for conducting its activities as well as deciding on important issues between two Central Committee plenums and should meet once a month. Its members include important state and military leaders, as the Premier and the vice-chairmen of the State Affairs Commission.
The Politburo's inner body is the Presidium (formerly the Standing Committee), elected by the WPK Central Committee, in charge of day-to-day party work. It is usually made up of the supreme leader and four other members. In practice, the Presidium is the highest body in both the party and the country, and its decisions de facto have the force of law.[11]
Current membership[]
As of 12 October 2021, the Politburo is composed of 16 members and 15 alternate members, with the following line-up.
Members[]
| Member | Member since | Party position(s) | State position(s) | |
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Kim Jong-un 김정은 (born 1984) |
11 April 2012 |
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| Choe Ryong-hae 최룡해 (born 1950) |
11 April 2012 |
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| Jo Yong-won 조용원 |
10 January 2021 |
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| Kim Tok-hun 김덕훈 (born 1962) |
31 December 2019 |
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| Pak Jong-chon 박정천 |
11 April 2020 |
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Ri Il-hwan 리일환 (born 1960) |
31 December 2019 |
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정상학 |
10 January 2021 |
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| Choe Sang-gon 최상건 (born 1953) |
10 January 2021 |
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O Su-yong 오수용 (born 1944) |
18 February 2015 |
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| Thae Hyong-chol 태형철 (born 1953) |
18 June 2021 |
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| Kim Jae-ryong 김재룡 (born 1959) |
9 April 2019 |
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O Il-jong 오일정 (born 1954) |
10 January 2021 |
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| Kim Yong-chol 김영철 (born 1946) |
9 May 2016 |
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Kwon Yong-jin 권영진 |
10 January 2021 |
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| Jong Kyong-thaek 정경택 (born 1961) |
10 April 2019 |
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| Ri Yong-gil 리영길 (born 1955) |
10 January 2021 |
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Alternate members[]
| Alternate member | Alternate member since |
Party position(s) | State position(s) | |
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2 September 2021 |
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김성남 |
11 February 2021 |
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Ho Chol-man 허철만 |
31 December 2019 |
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Pak Thae-dok 박태덕 (born 1955) |
10 January 2021 |
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김형식 |
10 January 2021 |
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| 2 September 2021 |
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Pak Myong-sun 박명순 |
13 August 2020 |
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Ri Chol-man 리철만 (born 1968) |
10 January 2021 |
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전현철 |
10 January 2021 |
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박정근 |
10 January 2021 |
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양승호 |
10 January 2021 |
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Ri Son-gwon 리선권 |
11 February 2021 |
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Jang Jong-nam | 2 September 2021 |
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우상철 |
18 June 2021 |
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Kim Yong-hwan 김영환 |
7 June 2020 |
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See also[]
- Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
- Politburo Standing Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
- Politburo of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
- Politburo of the Communist Party of China
- Secretariat of the Workers' Party of Korea
References[]
- ^ "Rules of the Workers' Party of Korea (28 September 2010) (조선로동당규약—2010년 9월 28일)" (PDF). September 28, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 22, 2017.
- ^ Lankov 1999, p. 47.
- ^ Buzo 1999, p. 31.
- ^ a b c Buzo 1999, p. 32.
- ^ Kim 1982, p. 140.
- ^ Kim 2000, p. 257.
- ^ Kim 2000, pp. 257–258.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Gause 2011, p. 148.
- ^ Gause 2013, p. 40.
- ^ a b "Kim Jong Un Appointed "First Secretary" of Korean Workers' Party". North Korea Leadership Watch. April 11, 2012. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
- ^ "Defence Development Exhibition "Self-Defence-2021" Opens with Splendor". KCNA. October 12, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
Bibliography[]
- Articles, books and journal entries
- Haggard, Stephen; Herman, Luke; Ryu, Jaesung (July–August 2014). "Political Change in North Korea: Mapping the Succession". Asian Survey. University of California Press. 54 (4): 773–780. doi:10.1525/as.2014.54.4.773. JSTOR 10.1525/as.2014.54.4.773.
- Kim, Nam-Sik (Spring–Summer 1982). "North Korea's Power Structure and Foreign Relations: an Analysis of the Sixth Congress of the KWP". . . 2 (1): 125–151. JSTOR 23253510.
- Lankov, Andrei N. (1999). "Kim Il Sung's Campaign against the Soviet Faction in Late 1955 and the Birth of Chuch'e". Korean Studies. 23 (1): 43–67. doi:10.1353/ks.1999.0003. ISSN 1529-1529. S2CID 154905899.
- Staff writer (2012 & 2014). Understanding North Korea. Ministry of Unification. Check date values in:
|year=(help)
- Books
- Buzo, Adrian (1999). The Guerilla Dynasty: Politics and Leadership in North Korea. I.B. Tauris. ISBN 1860644147.
- Gause, Ken E. (2011). North Korea Under Kim Chong-il: Power, Politics, and Prospects for Change. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0313381751.
- — (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.
- Kim, Samuel (2000). "North Korean Informal Politics". Informal Politics in East Asia. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521645387.
- Lankov, Andrei (2007). Crisis in North Korea: The Failure of De-Stalinization, 1956. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0824832070.
- Suh, Dae-sook (1988). Kim Il Sung: The North Korean Leader (1st ed.). Columbia University Press. ISBN 0231065736.
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- Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea