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 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 First Secretary of the North Korean Branch Bureau Kim Il Sung 김일성 1912 1994 18 December 1946 28 August 1946 First Secretary of the Central Committee Ho Ka-i 허가이 1900 1953 24 June 1949 2 July 1953 Second Secretary of the Central Committee Yi Sung-yop 이성엽 1905 1954 24 June 1949 6 August 1953 Third Secretary of the Central Committee Kim Sam-yong 김삼룡 1908 1950 24 June 1949 27 March 1950 General Secretary of the Central Committee Kim Il Sung 김일성 1912 1994 12 October 1966 8 July 1994 General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Jong Il 김정일 1941 2011 8 October 199717 December 2011 First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Jong Un 김정은 1983 Alive 11 April 2012 9 May 2016 General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Jong Un 김정은 1983 Alive 10 January 2021 Incumbent References:
Secretaries RankHighest 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. 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 7 Choe Sang-gon 최상건 1953 Alive 10 January 2021 Incumbent 2 Choe Thae-bok 김기남 1930 2024 27 December 1986 9 May 2016 1 Choe Yong-gon 최용건 1900 1976 12 October 1966 19 September 1976 — Chon Pyong-ho 전병호 1926 2014 27 December 1986 28 September 2010 7 Han Ik-su 한익수 1912 1978 13 November 1970 5 September 1978 — Han Son-yong 한성룡 1923 2009 12 December 1988 2009 7 Ho Bong-hak 허봉학 ? ? 12 October 1966 16 November 1968 — Ho Dam 허담 1929 1991 1 December 1983 11 May 1991 7 Ho Jong-suk 허정숙 1908 1991 17 June 1983 5 June 1991 ? 7 Hong Si-hak 홍시학 ? ? 14 October 1980 1 December 1983 10 Hong Sok-hyong 홍석형 1936 Alive 28 September 2010 June 2011 6 Hwang Jang-yop 황장엽 1923 2010 12 December 1979 24 February 1997 8 Hyon Mu-gwang 현무광 1913 1992 13 November 1970 14 October 1980 5 Hyon Mu-kwang 현무광 ? ? 17 June 1983 ? ? 1 Jo Yong-won 조용원 ? Alive 10 January 2021 Incumbent 4 Jong Sang-hak 정상학 ? Alive 10 January 2021 Incumbent — Kang Song-san 강성산 1931 1997 27 December 1986 ? 2 Kim Chung-nin 김중린 1923 2010 13 November 1970 10 December 1984 9 January 1990 28 April 2010 4 Kim Hwan 김영남 ? ? 14 October 1980 17 June 1983 2 Kim Il 김일 1910 1984 12 October 1966 14 October 1980 1 Kim Jong Il 김정일 1942 2011 17 September 1973 8 October 1997 6 Kim Jung-rin 김중린 1923 2010 30 June 1969 14 October 1980 1 Kim Ki-nam 김기남 1929 2024 October 2007 9 May 2016 — Kim Kyong-hui 김경희 1946 Alive 11 April 2012 9 May 2016 5 Kim Kwang-hyop 김광협 1915 1970 12 October 1966 July 1970 8 Kim Phyong-hae 김평해 1941 Alive 28 September 2010 9 May 2016 10 Kim To-man 김토만 ? 1967 12 October 1966 8 April 1967 5 Kim Tong-gyu 김동규 1915 ? 13 November 1970 28 November 1978 6 Kim Tu-il 김두일 ? Alive 10 January 2021 Incumbent 7 Kim Yang-gon 김양건 1942 2015 28 September 2010 29 December 2015 6 Kim Yong-il 김영일 1944 Alive 28 September 2010 9 May 2016 8 Kim Yong-ju 김영주 1920 2021 12 October 1966 11–13 February 1974 2 Kim Yong-nam 김영남 1928 2025 14 October 1980 17 June 1983 — Kim Yong-sun 김용순 1934 2003 23 May 1990 26 October 2003 — Kwak Pom-gi 곽범기 1939 Alive 11 April 2012 9 May 2016 — Kye Ung-tae 김영남 1920 2006 8 February 1986 23 November 2006 4 Mun Kyong-dok 문경덕 1957 Alive 28 September 2010 9 May 2016 4 O Jin-u 오진우 1917 1995 13 November 1970 14 October 1980 — O Su-yong 오수용 1944 Alive 11 February 2021 Incumbent 3 Pak Kum-chol 박금철 1911 1967 12 October 1966 8 April 1967 — Pak Nam-gi 박남기 1934 2010 12 December 1988 9 January 2010 9 Pak Su-dong 박수동 ? ? 14 October 1980 31 August 1982 2 Pak Thae-song 박태성 1955 Alive 10 January 2021 Incumbent 5 Pak To-chun 박도춘 1944 Alive 28 September 2010 9 May 2016 9 Pak Yong-guk 박용국 ? ? 12 October 1966 16 November 1968 5 Ri Il-hwan 리일환 1960 Alive 10 January 2021 Incumbent 3 Ri Pyong-chol 리병철 1948 Alive 10 January 2021 Incumbent 6 Sok San 속산 ? ? 12 October 1966 13 November 1970 — So Kwan-hui 서관희 1926 1997 6 October 1981 21 September 1997 8 Son Kwan-hi 손관희 ? ? 17 June 1983 ? ? 9 Thae Jong-su 태종수 1936 Alive 28 September 2010 9 May 2016 9 Yang Hyon-sop 양형섭 1925 2022 30 June 1969 14 October 1980 4 Yi Hyo-sun 이효선 ? 1967 12 October 1966 8 April 1967 — Yi Kuk-chin 이국진 ? ? 30 June 1969 13 November 1970 6 Yun Ki-bok 윤기복 ? ? 14 October 1980 17 June 1983 9 January 1990 ? ? References:
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