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

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 | 1 year and 66 days |
| First Secretary of the North Korean Branch Bureau | Kim Il Sung | 김일성 | 1912 | 1994 | 18 December 1946 | 28 August 1946 | 2 years and 194 days |
| First Secretary of the Central Committee | Ho Ka-i | 허가이 | 1900 | 1953 | 24 June 1949 | 2 July 1953 | 4 years and 8 days |
| Second Secretary of the Central Committee | Yi Sung-yop | 이성엽 | 1905 | 1954 | 24 June 1949 | 6 August 1953 | 4 years and 43 days |
| Third Secretary of the Central Committee | Kim Sam-yong | 김삼룡 | 1908 | 1950 | 24 June 1949 | 27 March 1950 | 276 days |
| General Secretary of the Central Committee | Kim Il Sung | 김일성 | 1912 | 1994 | 12 October 1966 | 8 July 1994 | 27 years and 269 days |
| General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea | Kim Jong Il | 김정일 | 1941 | 2011 | 8 October 1997 | 17 December 2011 | 14 years and 70 days |
| First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea | Kim Jong Un | 김정은 | 1983 | Alive | 11 April 2012 | 9 May 2016 | 4 years and 28 days |
| General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea | Kim Jong Un | 김정은 | 1983 | Alive | 10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years and 272 days |
| References: ||||||||

## Secretaries

| Rank | 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 | 5 years and 224 days |
| 7 | Choe Sang-gon | 최상건 | 1953 | Alive | 10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years and 272 days |
| 2 | Choe Thae-bok | 김기남 | 1930 | Alive | 27 December 1986 | 9 May 2016 | 29 years and 134 days |
| 1 | Choe Yong-gon | 최용건 | 1900 | 1976 | 12 October 1966 | 19 September 1976 | 9 years and 343 days |
| — | Chon Pyong-ho | 전병호 | 1926 | 2014 | 27 December 1986 | 28 September 2010 | 23 years and 275 days |
| 7 | Han Ik-su | 한익수 | 1912 | 1978 | 13 November 1970 | 5 September 1978 | 7 years and 296 days |
| — | Han Son-yong | 한성룡 | 1923 | 2009 | 12 December 1988 | 2009 | 38 years and 49 days |
| 7 | Ho Bong-hak | 허봉학 | ? | ? | 12 October 1966 | 16 November 1968 | 2 years and 35 days |
| — | Ho Dam | 허담 | 1929 | 1991 | 1 December 1983 | 11 May 1991 | 7 years and 161 days |
| 7 | Ho Jong-suk | 허정숙 | 1908 | 1991 | 17 June 1983 | 5 June 1991 | ? |
| 7 | Hong Si-hak | 홍시학 | ? | ? | 14 October 1980 | 1 December 1983 | 3 years and 48 days |
| 10 | Hong Sok-hyong | 홍석형 | 1936 | Alive | 28 September 2010 | June 2011 | 246 days |
| 6 | Hwang Jang-yop | 황장엽 | 1923 | 2010 | 12 December 1979 | 24 February 1997 | 17 years and 74 days |
| 8 | Hyon Mu-gwang | 현무광 | 1913 | 1992 | 13 November 1970 | 14 October 1980 | 9 years and 336 days |
| 5 | Hyon Mu-kwang | 현무광 | ? | ? | 17 June 1983 | ? | ? |
| 1 | Jo Yong-won | 조용원 | ? | Alive | 10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years and 272 days |
| 4 | Jong Sang-hak | 정상학 | ? | Alive | 10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years and 272 days |
| — | Kang Song-san | 강성산 | 1931 | 1997 | 27 December 1986 | ? | |
| 2 | Kim Chung-nin | 김중린 | 1923 | 2010 | 13 November 1970 | 10 December 1984 | 14 years and 27 days |
| 2 | Kim Chung-nin | 김중린 | 1923 | 2010 | 9 January 1990 | 28 April 2010 | 20 years and 109 days |
| 4 | Kim Hwan | 김영남 | ? | ? | 14 October 1980 | 17 June 1983 | 2 years and 246 days |
| 2 | Kim Il | 김일 | 1910 | 1984 | 12 October 1966 | 14 October 1980 | 14 years and 2 days |
| 1 | Kim Jong Il | 김정일 | 1942 | 2011 | 17 September 1973 | 8 October 1997 | 26 years and 329 days |
| 6 | Kim Jung-rin | 김중린 | 1923 | 2010 | 30 June 1969 | 14 October 1980 | 11 years and 106 days |
| 1 | Kim Ki-nam | 김기남 | 1929 | 2024 | October 2007 | 9 May 2016 | 8 years and 221 days |
| — | Kim Kyong-hui | 김경희 | 1946 | Alive | 11 April 2012 | 9 May 2016 | 4 years and 28 days |
| 5 | Kim Kwang-hyop | 김광협 | 1915 | 1970 | 12 October 1966 | July 1970 | 3 years and 262 days |
| 8 | Kim Phyong-hae | 김평해 | 1941 | Alive | 28 September 2010 | 9 May 2016 | 5 years and 224 days |
| 10 | Kim To-man | 김토만 | ? | 1967 | 12 October 1966 | 8 April 1967 | 2 years and 35 days |
| 5 | Kim Tong-gyu | 김동규 | 1915 | ? | 13 November 1970 | 28 November 1978 | 8 years and 15 days |
| 6 | Kim Tu-il | 김두일 | ? | Alive | 10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years and 272 days |
| 7 | Kim Yang-gon | 김양건 | 1942 | 2015 | 28 September 2010 | 29 December 2015 | 5 years and 92 days |
| 6 | Kim Yong-il | 김영일 | 1944 | Alive | 28 September 2010 | 9 May 2016 | 5 years and 224 days |
| 8 | Kim Yong-ju | 김영주 | 1920 | Alive | 12 October 1966 | 11–13 February 1974 | 7 years and 124 days |
| 2 | Kim Yong-nam | 김영남 | 1928 | Alive | 14 October 1980 | 17 June 1983 | 2 years and 246 days |
| — | Kim Yong-sun | 김용순 | 1934 | 2003 | 23 May 1990 | 26 October 2003 | 13 years and 156 days |
| — | Kwak Pom-gi | 곽범기 | 1939 | Alive | 11 April 2012 | 9 May 2016 | 4 years and 28 days |
| — | Kye Ung-tae | 김영남 | 1920 | 2006 | 8 February 1986 | 23 November 2006 | 20 years and 288 days |
| 4 | Mun Kyong-dok | 문경덕 | 1957 | Alive | 28 September 2010 | 9 May 2016 | 5 years and 224 days |
| 4 | O Jin-u | 오진우 | 1917 | 1995 | 13 November 1970 | 14 October 1980 | 9 years and 336 days |
| — | O Su-yong | 오수용 | 1944 | Alive | 11 February 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years and 240 days |
| 3 | Pak Kum-chol | 박금철 | 1911 | 1967 | 12 October 1966 | 8 April 1967 | 178 days |
| — | Pak Nam-gi | 박남기 | 1934 | 2010 | 12 December 1988 | 9 January 2010 | 21 years and 28 days |
| 9 | Pak Su-dong | 박수동 | ? | ? | 14 October 1980 | 31 August 1982 | 1 year and 321 days |
| 2 | Pak Thae-song | 박태성 | 1955 | Alive | 10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years and 272 days |
| 5 | Pak To-chun | 박도춘 | 1944 | Alive | 28 September 2010 | 9 May 2016 | 5 years and 224 days |
| 9 | Pak Yong-guk | 박용국 | ? | ? | 12 October 1966 | 16 November 1968 | 2 years and 35 days |
| 5 | Ri Il-hwan | 리일환 | 1960 | Alive | 10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years and 272 days |
| 3 | Ri Pyong-chol | 리병철 | 1948 | Alive | 10 January 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years and 272 days |
| 6 | Sok San | 속산 | ? | ? | 12 October 1966 | 13 November 1970 | 4 years and 32 days |
| — | So Kwan-hui | 서관희 | 1926 | 1997 | 6 October 1981 | 21 September 1997 | 15 years and 350 days |
| 8 | Son Kwan-hi | 손관희 | ? | ? | 17 June 1983 | ? | ? |
| 9 | Thae Jong-su | 태종수 | 1936 | Alive | 28 September 2010 | 9 May 2016 | 5 years and 224 days |
| 9 | Yang Hyon-sop | 양형섭 | 1925 | Alive | 30 June 1969 | 14 October 1980 | 11 years and 106 days |
| 4 | Yi Hyo-sun | 이효선 | ? | 1967 | 12 October 1966 | 8 April 1967 | 178 days |
| — | Yi Kuk-chin | 이국진 | ? | ? | 30 June 1969 | 13 November 1970 | 1 year and 136 days |
| 6 | Yun Ki-bok | 윤기복 | ? | ? | 14 October 1980 | 17 June 1983 | 2 years and 246 days |
| 6 | Yun Ki-bok | 윤기복 | ? | ? | 9 January 1990 | ? | ? |
| References: ||||||||

## Noter

* ↑ 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.