Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea
Encyclopedia
The Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (조선로동당 당대회) is the highest body of the Workers' Party of Korea
, according to Party Rules.
The WPK Congress hears the reports of central authorities, makes amendments to Party Rules, sets the Party's political line, and elects the WPK Central Committee
as well as the Party General Secretary
.
The WPK Congress was scheduled to meet every five years, though this deadline was not always observed. After no congress had taken place since 1980, the September 2010 WPK Conference changed the Party Rules eliminating the clause concerning the five years, as well as transferring many of the Congress powers to the Party Conference (including the one of electing top officials and changing Party Rules).
Also called the Inaugural Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, it established the Workers' Party of North Korea from the North Korean Bureau of the Korean Communist Party.
The WPNK 1st Central Committee held 12 plenary meetings from 1946 to 1948. The 1st Plenum on 30 August 1946 elected Kim Tu-bong
as Chairman, Kim Il-sung
and Chu Nyong-ha as Vice Chairmen, and appointed a 5-member Political Committee and 15-member Standing Committee.
The Congress focused on the goal of achieving the country's reunification. Kim Il-sung attacked the Pak Hon-yong
-led "domestic faction".
Later, on 30 June 1949, the party merged with the Workers' Party of South Korea giving birth to the unified Workers' Party of Korea.
The WPNK 2nd Central Committee held 6 plenary meetings from 1948 to June 1949; the WPK Central Committee held 11 plenary meetings from June 1949 to 1956, on yearly and later two-year basis. The 2nd Plenum on 12 July 1948 decided upon the establishment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The unified Central Committee's 1st Plenum on 1 July 1949 elected Kim Il-sung as Chairman, with Pak Hon-yong and Ho Ka Ai
as Vice Chairmen.
This was the first congress to be held after the Party's unification, the establishment of the DPRK and the Korean War
. The Congress decided upon the objectives of the Five-Year Plan for the Development of the National Economy (1957–1961). Inner fighting resumed as a result of the 20th Congress of the CPSU. Kim Il-sung's opponents Pak Chang-ok and Choe Chang-ik were later expelled.
The WPK 3rd Central Committee held 14 plenary meeting from 1956 to 1961. The 1st Plenum on 29 April 1956 appointed Kim Il-sung as Chairman, with five Vice Chairmen; the Political Committee was abolished and a 15-member Standing Committee was elected, and an Organizational Bureau was established.
Kim Il-sung delivered a report outlining the programme of the "First Seven-Year Plan for the Development of the National Economy (1961–1967)". He also urged party members to "oppose revisionism, factionalism, parochialism and nepotism, and defend the unity of the Party", as a result of the WPK moving to a more international independent stand.
The WPK 4th Central Committee held 20 plenary meetings from 1961 to 1970. The 1st Plenum on 18 September 1961 appointed Kim Il-sung as Chairman and other five (including Choi Yong-kun
and Kim Il
) as Vice Chairmen; the Political Committee was restored with 15 members. The Orburò was abolished.
After a Party Conference in October 1966 greatly changed the structure of the WPK, the 14th Plenum (12 October 1966) appointed Kim Il-sung as General Secretary and elected a 20-member Political Committee (with Kim Il-sung and former vice-chairmen as Presidium members) as well as a 10-member Secretariat.
Kim Il-sung delivered a report setting the "three revolutions" (ideological, technological and cultural revolutions) as well as the "Six-Year National Economic Plan (1971-1976)".
The WPK 5th Central Committee held 19 plenary meetings from 1970 to 1980. The 1st Plenum on 13 November 1970 appointed Kim Il-sung as General Secretary, a 15-member Political Committee and a 9-member Secretariat. The 8th Plenum in February 1974 designated Kim Jong-il
as Kim Il-sung's successor.
Kim Il-sung delivered a report defining "modelling of the whole society on the Juche
idea" as the general task of the Korean revolution and proposing the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo between the DPRK and South Korea
. Party Rules were changed dropping references to Marxism-Leninism
in favour of Juche. Kim Jong-il as announced as Kim Il-sung's heir.
The WPK 6th Central Committee held 21 plenary meetings from 1980 to 1993, and did not meet again until 2010. The 1st Plenum on 14 October 1980 appointed Kim Il-sung as General Secretary, a 34-member Politburo (with Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, Kim Il, O Chin-u
and Li Jong-ok
as Presidium members) and a 9-member Secretariat.
After the September 2010 Party Conference massively renewed the Central Committee membership, the 28 September 2010 Plenum elected a new 32-member Politburo (with Kim Jong-il, Kim Yong-nam
, Choe Yong-rim
, Jo Myong-rok
and Ri Yong-ho
as Presidium members) and 10-member Secretariat.
Workers' Party of Korea
The Workers' Party of Korea is the ruling Communist party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea. It is also called the Korean Workers' Party...
, according to Party Rules.
The WPK Congress hears the reports of central authorities, makes amendments to Party Rules, sets the Party's political line, and elects the WPK Central Committee
Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea is the leadership body of the Workers' Party of Korea. According to Party rules, the Central Committee directs the Party work between the Party Congresses...
as well as the Party General Secretary
General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea
Prior to 1966 the leader of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was the Chairman of the Central Committee. Since 1966, the year a party congress reformed the structure of the Party, the Central Committee has elected a leader called the General Secretary.-General Secretary of the...
.
The WPK Congress was scheduled to meet every five years, though this deadline was not always observed. After no congress had taken place since 1980, the September 2010 WPK Conference changed the Party Rules eliminating the clause concerning the five years, as well as transferring many of the Congress powers to the Party Conference (including the one of electing top officials and changing Party Rules).
1st Congress
- Date: 28–30 August 1946
- Delegates: 801
- Party members: 366,339 (4% of population)
Also called the Inaugural Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, it established the Workers' Party of North Korea from the North Korean Bureau of the Korean Communist Party.
The WPNK 1st Central Committee held 12 plenary meetings from 1946 to 1948. The 1st Plenum on 30 August 1946 elected Kim Tu-bong
Kim Tu-bong
Kim Tu-bong was a Korean linguist and politician. He formed the New People's Party. After the New People's Party merged into the Workers Party of North Korea in 1946, he became Chairman of the Workers Party. He was the first head of state of North Korea from 1948 to 1957...
as Chairman, Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung was a Korean communist politician who led the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of Prime Minister from 1948 to 1972 and President from 1972 to his death...
and Chu Nyong-ha as Vice Chairmen, and appointed a 5-member Political Committee and 15-member Standing Committee.
2nd Congress
- Date: 27–30 March 1948
- Delegates: 999
- Party members: 725,762 (8% of population)
The Congress focused on the goal of achieving the country's reunification. Kim Il-sung attacked the Pak Hon-yong
Pak Hon-yong
Pak Hon-yong was a Korean independence activist, politician, philosopher and Communist activist. One of the main leaders of the Korean communist movement during Japan's colonial rule . his nickname was Ijung.During the Japanese occupation of Korea, he tried to organize the Korean Communist Party...
-led "domestic faction".
Later, on 30 June 1949, the party merged with the Workers' Party of South Korea giving birth to the unified Workers' Party of Korea.
The WPNK 2nd Central Committee held 6 plenary meetings from 1948 to June 1949; the WPK Central Committee held 11 plenary meetings from June 1949 to 1956, on yearly and later two-year basis. The 2nd Plenum on 12 July 1948 decided upon the establishment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The unified Central Committee's 1st Plenum on 1 July 1949 elected Kim Il-sung as Chairman, with Pak Hon-yong and Ho Ka Ai
Alexei Ivanovich Hegay
Alexei Ivanovich Hegay was a Soviet political operative in North Korea and leader of the Soviet Korean faction within the early political structure of North Korea...
as Vice Chairmen.
3rd Congress
- Date: 23–29 April 1956
- Delegates: 916
- Party members: 1,164,945 (10% of population)
This was the first congress to be held after the Party's unification, the establishment of the DPRK and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. The Congress decided upon the objectives of the Five-Year Plan for the Development of the National Economy (1957–1961). Inner fighting resumed as a result of the 20th Congress of the CPSU. Kim Il-sung's opponents Pak Chang-ok and Choe Chang-ik were later expelled.
The WPK 3rd Central Committee held 14 plenary meeting from 1956 to 1961. The 1st Plenum on 29 April 1956 appointed Kim Il-sung as Chairman, with five Vice Chairmen; the Political Committee was abolished and a 15-member Standing Committee was elected, and an Organizational Bureau was established.
4th Congress
- Date: 11–18 September 1961
- Delegates: 1,657
- Party members: 1,311,563 (12.2% of population)
Kim Il-sung delivered a report outlining the programme of the "First Seven-Year Plan for the Development of the National Economy (1961–1967)". He also urged party members to "oppose revisionism, factionalism, parochialism and nepotism, and defend the unity of the Party", as a result of the WPK moving to a more international independent stand.
The WPK 4th Central Committee held 20 plenary meetings from 1961 to 1970. The 1st Plenum on 18 September 1961 appointed Kim Il-sung as Chairman and other five (including Choi Yong-kun
Choi Yong-kun
Choi Yong-kun was the Korean People's Army chief commander from 1948 to 1953 North Korean defence minister from 1953 to 1957, and the President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea from 1957 to 1972. Choi Yong-kun was born in T'aech'ŏn County in North Pyongan,...
and Kim Il
Kim Il
Kim Il is the name of:* Kim Il , North Korean wrestler* Kintaro Ohki, , professional wrestler* Kim Il , South Korean pentathlete* Kim Il , Premier of North Korea from 1972 to 1976...
) as Vice Chairmen; the Political Committee was restored with 15 members. The Orburò was abolished.
After a Party Conference in October 1966 greatly changed the structure of the WPK, the 14th Plenum (12 October 1966) appointed Kim Il-sung as General Secretary and elected a 20-member Political Committee (with Kim Il-sung and former vice-chairmen as Presidium members) as well as a 10-member Secretariat.
5th Congress
- Date: 2–13 November 1970
- Delegates: 1,734
- Party members: 1.6 millions (13% of population)
Kim Il-sung delivered a report setting the "three revolutions" (ideological, technological and cultural revolutions) as well as the "Six-Year National Economic Plan (1971-1976)".
The WPK 5th Central Committee held 19 plenary meetings from 1970 to 1980. The 1st Plenum on 13 November 1970 appointed Kim Il-sung as General Secretary, a 15-member Political Committee and a 9-member Secretariat. The 8th Plenum in February 1974 designated Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
as Kim Il-sung's successor.
6th Congress
- Date: 10–14 October 1980
- Delegates: 3,320
- Party members: 3 millions estimated (17% of population)
Kim Il-sung delivered a report defining "modelling of the whole society on the Juche
Juche
Juche or Chuch'e is a Korean word usually translated as "self-reliance." In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , "Juche" refers specifically to a political thesis of Kim Il-sung, the Juche Idea, that identifies the Korean masses as the masters of the country's development...
idea" as the general task of the Korean revolution and proposing the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo between the DPRK and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. Party Rules were changed dropping references to Marxism-Leninism
Marxism-Leninism
Marxism–Leninism is a communist ideology, officially based upon the theories of Marxism and Vladimir Lenin, that promotes the development and creation of a international communist society through the leadership of a vanguard party over a revolutionary socialist state that represents a dictatorship...
in favour of Juche. Kim Jong-il as announced as Kim Il-sung's heir.
The WPK 6th Central Committee held 21 plenary meetings from 1980 to 1993, and did not meet again until 2010. The 1st Plenum on 14 October 1980 appointed Kim Il-sung as General Secretary, a 34-member Politburo (with Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, Kim Il, O Chin-u
O Chin-u
Marshal O Chin-u was a soldier and politician of North Korea. He was the Minister of Armed Forces for many years until his death in February 1995. O was the third most powerful person in North Korea, after Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il...
and Li Jong-ok
Li Jong-ok
Li Jong-ok was the Premier of North Korea from 1977 to 1984. He succeeded Park Sung-chul.-See also:* List of Korea-related topics...
as Presidium members) and a 9-member Secretariat.
After the September 2010 Party Conference massively renewed the Central Committee membership, the 28 September 2010 Plenum elected a new 32-member Politburo (with Kim Jong-il, Kim Yong-nam
Kim Yong-nam
Kim Yong-nam is the current North Korean Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, a position held since 1998. He was elected a member of the presidium of the politburo of the central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in 2010.He was born in the Central District, Heijo ,...
, Choe Yong-rim
Choe Yong-rim
Choe Yong-rim is the Premier of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea since May 2011 and Workers' Party of Korea central committee presidium member since September 2010., KCNA, 29 September 2010.Choe is described by the New York Times as a "KWP insider" and a...
, Jo Myong-rok
Jo Myong-Rok
Jo Myong-rok was a member of the North Korean military. He held the North Korean military rank Chasu . In 2009, he was appointed First Vice-Chairman of the National Defense Commission, Director of the Korean People's Army General Political Bureau...
and Ri Yong-ho
Ri Yong-ho
Vice Marshal Ri Yong-ho is a North Korean military officer, and member of the central presidium of the Workers' Party of Korea since September 2010....
as Presidium members) and 10-member Secretariat.