# Hyon Chol-hae

Hyon Chol-hae (Korean: 현철해; 13 August 1934 – 19 May 2022) was a North Korean military officer and politician who was closely tied to the ruling Kim family. He served as Kim Il Sung's bodyguard during the Korean War and reported directly to Kim Jong Il as deputy director of the General Political Department. In 2016, he was promoted to Marshal of the Korean People's Army, the Army's highest rank.
He died on 19 May 2022 from multiple organ failure. He received a state funeral, in which Kim Jong Un personally carried his casket.

## Biography

Hyon was born on 13 August 1934 in Yanji, Jilin province in the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo.
During the Korean War, Hyon served as Kim Il Sung's bodyguard, a role which gave him "a place in North Korea's revolutionary history". He was director of the General Logistics Department of the Korean People's Army from 1986 to 1995, when he was appointed deputy director of the General Political Department, becoming one of the most senior members of the North Korean military and political leadership. He was described as being in "close proximity" to Kim Jong Il, and as reporting directly to him. It had been suggested that following the death of Kim Jong Il he may have taken part in a military council leading the country. He was transferred to director of the Standing Bureau of the National Defence Commission. He was a member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea from 1991 until his death.
He was vital in securing the succession campaign for Kim Jong Un, having entrusted by Kim Jong Il with the upbringing of his chosen successor, effectively serving as a "political" mentor of Kim Jong Un. This is attested by photographs and television footage which shown Hyon accompanying Kim Jong Un in the late 2000s.
In April 2012, he received important promotions as Vice Marshal, member of the Politburo and the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, first vice-minister of the People's Armed Forces and director of the army's General Logistics Department.
He was replaced as first vice-minister of defense by his predecessor as logistics director, Jon Chang-bok, in May 2013.
On April 15, 2016, Hyon Chol-hae became the fifth person to be promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Korean People's Army, in one of the first two promotions of active duty officers after 21 years.

## Death and State Funeral of Hyon Chol-Hae

On 19 May 2022, Hyon died at the Ponghwa Clinic in Pyongyang from multiple organ failure at the age of 87. He received a state funeral and was laid in state at the April 25 House of Culture. Kim Jong Un personally bore his casket and placed earth upon his grave at the Patriotic Martyrs' Cemetery. His legacy in cementing Kim's rule is embellished in North Korean media, attesting his role in Kim Jong Un's succession preparations as "an outstanding revolutionary born of the Juche revolution and a skilled military politician". A documentary was made in his honor which aired in state television days after his death.
His funeral committee included;
   The state funeral committee is formed with the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un as its chairman and Choe Ryong Hae, Jo Yong Won, Kim Tok Hun, Pak Jong Chon, Ri Pyong Chol, Ri Il Hwan, Jong Sang Hak, O Su Yong, Thae Hyong Chol, Kim Jae Ryong, Kim Yong Chol, Jong Kyong Thaek, Pak Jong Gun, Rim Kwang Il, O Il Jong, Ho Chol Man, Pak Thae Dok, Kim Hyong Sik, Yu Jin, Pak Myong Sun, Ri Chol Man, Kim Song Nam, Jon Hyon Chol, Yang Sung Ho, Ju Chol Gyu, Ri Son Gwon, Ri Thae Sop, Kim Yong Hwan, Kang Yun Sok, Ri Song Hak, Pak Hun, Kim Song Ryong, Pak Yong Il, Ju Chang Il, Ri Tu Song, Kang Sun Nam, Kim Pong Chol, Ri Chang Song, Kim Yong Gwang, Pak Jong Nam, Ri Hi Yong, Kim Jo Guk, Hong Sung Mu, Jo Yong Chol, Jang Kwang Myong, Kim Tong Il, Sin Ryong Man, Mun Kyong Dok, An Kum Chol, Pak Chang Ho, Pak Song Chol, Kang Pong Hun, Kim Su Gil, Kim Chol Sam, Ri Jong Nam, Ri Thae Il, Ri Jae Nam, Sin Yong Chol, Jang Yong Rok, Ri Myong Su, Choe Tu Yong, Kim Jong Gwan, Kwon Thae Yong, Kim Song Gi, Jo Kyong Chol, Pak Yong Il, Ri Chang Ho, Ju Tong Chol, Kim Kyong Ryong, Sin Ki Chol, Pang Tu Sop, Yang Tong Hun, Ri Tong Chun, Kim Sang Gap, Kim Kwang Hyok, Ri Chol, Kim Chol Gun, Yun Pyong Gwon, Jong Myong Do, An Ji Yong, Kim Yong Bok, O Pyong Chol, Kim To Un, Jang Il Gon, Choe Pae Sik, Choe Kwon Sik, Kim Myong Sik, Kim Kwang Hyok, Kim Jong Gil, Pak Su Il, Ryo Chol Ung, Pak Kwang Ju, Choe Kil Ryong, Ri Pong Chun, Choe Kwang Il, Ri Kyong Chol, Choe Chun Gil, Kim Hak Chol, Song Yong Gon, Ko Myong Su, Ko In Chol, Song Sok Won, Ki Yong Jun, Kim Jong Chol, Kim Chol Hi, Hong Chol Ung, O Jong Su, Kim Song Chol, Kim Chang Guk, Om Ju Ho, Ri Yong Chol, Kim Pong Ho, Pak Yong Gwan, Yu Kwang U, An Yong Sik, Ham Hyo Sik, Kim Yong Ul, Han Myong Son, Kim Chol Nam, Kim Kyong Hun, Han Phyo Sop, Ri Hong Gwang, Hwang Chol Ju, Rim Tae Song, Ri Song Min, Ri Jong Son, Jong Chol Ho, Jong Kyong Il, Jong Tong Chol, Kim Kwang Il, Kwak Chang Sik, So Hong Chan, Kim Pok Nam, Rim Yong Chol, Sim Hong Bin, Choe Kwang Jun, Ri Song Ryol, Kim Yong Ho, Rim Kwang Ung, Pak Thae Song, Kim Yong Nam, Ko Kil Son, O Tong Il, Song Ki Chol, Jang Ki Ho, Kim Yu Il, Jon Hak Chol, Kim Chung Gol, Ma Jong Son, Jang Chun Song, Kang Jong Gwan, Kim Chol Su, Han Ryong Guk, Kim Jong Nam, Wang Chang Uk, Ju Yong Il, So Jong Jin, Ri Hyok Gwon, Song Chun Sop, Ri Chung Gil, Kim Sung Jin, Im Kyong Jae, Kim Sung Du, Kim Il Guk, Chae Song Hak, Ri Chol San, Kim Kum Chol, Cha Myong Nam, Kim Chung Song, Kim Kwang Il, Jang Kyong Il, Im Hak Won, Ko Jong Bom, Yun Jong Ho, Kim Song Jun, Pak Hyok Chol, Choe Kyong Chol, Sung Jong Gyu, Kang Kwon Il, Mun Chol, Pak In Chol, Han Jong Hyok and Kim Jong Sun as its members

## Awards and honors

A frame with Kim's awards and honors was displayed during his funeral, showing all the decorations he had received.

## Links

* Grave of Hyon Chol-hae