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Kim Il Sung, the former leader of North Korea, held many titles and offices during his lifetime. Despite his death in 1994, he is currently the Eternal President of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
When he is mentioned in North Korean media and publications, he is most commonly referred to as "Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung" (위대한 수령 김일성동지) or "Leader" (수령님). [1]
When his name is written, it is always emphasized by a special bold font or in a larger font size, for example: "Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung is the Founder of the Socialist Cause of Juche, the Founder of Socialist Korea" or "Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung is the Founder of the Socialist Cause of Juche, the Founder of Socialist Korea." [1]
| Chosŏn'gŭl (Hancha) | DPRK McCune–Reischauer | English | Comment | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 공화국의 영원한 주석 | Konghwagugŭi Yŏngwŏnhan Chusŏk | Eternal President of the Republic | Appointed at the 1st Session of the 10th Supreme People's Assembly on 5 September 1998. | [2] |
| 조선민주주의인민공화국 대원수 | Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk Taewŏnsu | Generalissimo of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea | Promoted on 13 April 1992. |
| Chosŏn'gŭl (Hancha) | DPRK McCune–Reischauer | English | Tenure | Comment | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | |||||
| 조선로동당 중앙위원회 위원 | Member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea | October 1946 – 8 July 1994 | Elected at the 1st to 6th Congress of the WPK. | ||
| 조선로동당 중앙위원회 정치위원회 위원 | Member of the Political Committee of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea | October 1946 – 1956 | |||
| 조선로동당 중앙위원회 상임위원회 위원 | Member of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea | 1956–1961 | |||
| 조선로동당 중앙위원회 정치위원회 위원장 | Chairman of the Political Committee of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea | ||||
| 조선로동당 중앙위원회 위원장 | Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea | 30 June 1949 – 12 October 1966 | [3] | ||
| 조선로동당 중앙위원회 총비서 | Chosŏn Rodongdang Ch'ongbisŏ | General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea | 12 October 1966 – 8 July 1994 | Elected at the 14th Plenary Session of the 4th Party Central Committee, re-elected at 5th and 6th Congresses of the WPK. | [3] |
| State | |||||
| 북조선림시인민위원회 위원장 | Chairman of the Provisional People's Committee of North Korea | 8 February 1946 – August 1946 | [3] | ||
| 북조선인민위원회의 위원장 | Chairman of the North Korean People's Committee | August 1946 – September 1948 | [3] | ||
| 내각수상 | Premier of the Cabinet of the DPRK | 9 September 1948 – 28 December 1972 | [3] | ||
| 조선민주주의인민공화국 주석 | Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk Chusŏk | President of the DPRK | 28 December 1972 – 8 July 1994 | In accordance with the new Socialist Constitution of the DPRK adopted at the 1st session of the 5th Supreme People's Assembly. | [3] |
| 조선민주주의인민공화국 국방위원회 위원장 | Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK | 28 December 1972 – 9 April 1993 | [3] | ||
| Army | |||||
| 조선인민군 최고사령관 | Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army | 4 July 1950 – 24 December 1991 | [4] [5] | ||
| Chosŏn'gŭl (Hancha) | DPRK McCune–Reischauer | English | Comment | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 수령님 | Suryŏngnim | Leader | Used exclusively in reference to Kim Il Sung without using his name. | |
| 경애하는 수령님 | Kyŏngaehanŭn Suryŏngnim | Respected Leader | ||
| 어버이수령님 | Ŏbŏi Suryŏngnim | Fatherly Leader | ||
| 위대한 수령님 | Widaehan Suryŏngnim | Great Leader | ||
| 위대한 수령 | Widaehan Suryŏng | Great Leader | Used exclusively for Kim Il Sung, prefixed to his name. | |
| 수령 | Suryŏng | Leader | ||
| 민족의 태양 | Minjogŭi T'aeyang | Sun of the Nation | [6] | |
| 주석님 | Chusŏngnim | President | More common when referring to him internationally (Chongryon, Uriminzokkiri) | [6] |
| 20세기의 태양 | Isipsegiŭi T'aeyang | Sun of the 20th Century | [6] | |
| 주체조선의 영원한 수령 | Chuch'e Chosŏnŭi Yŏngwŏnhan Suryŏng | Eternal Leader of Juche Korea | Established by a line in the preamble to the Constitution, as amended on 30 June 2016. |
The politics of North Korea takes place within the framework of the official state philosophy, Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism. Juche, which is a part of Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism, is the belief that only through self-reliance and a strong independent state, can true socialism be achieved.
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Juche, officially the Juche idea, is a component of Kimilsungism–Kimjongilism, the state ideology of North Korea and the official ideology of the Workers' Party of Korea. North Korean sources attribute its conceptualization to Kim Il Sung, the country's founder and first leader. Juche was originally regarded as a variant of Marxism–Leninism until Kim Jong Il, Kim Il Sung's son and successor, declared it a distinct ideology in the 1970s. Kim Jong Il further developed Juche in the 1980s and 1990s by making ideological breaks from Marxism–Leninism and increasing the importance of his father's ideas.
The Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the constitution of North Korea. It was approved by the 6th Supreme People's Assembly at its first session on 27 December 1972, and has been amended and supplemented in 1998, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2019 (twice), 2023 and 2024. It replaced the country's first constitution which was approved in 1948.
The eternal leaders of North Korea are mentions of deceased leaders of North Korea. The phrase was mentioned in a line of the preamble to the Constitution, as amended on 30 June 2016, and in subsequent revisions.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the commander-in-chief of the Korean People's Army, the military of North Korea. The office was established on 4 July 1950 and abolished with the passing of a new constitution in 1972. Since then, the office of President of North Korea, the Chairman of the National Defence Commission and the President of the State Affairs Commission have been referred to as supreme commanders in accordance with the constitution.
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