Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (Chosŏnminjujuŭiinmin’gonghwaguk, 조선민주주의인민공화국) (1948 – present)
Heads of State of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
List of Heads of State of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Chairmen of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly
Name
Political Party
Dates in Office
Kim Tu-bong
Date of birth/date of death:
Born February 16 1889. Died March 1958.
Workers’ Party of Korea
September 9 1948 – September 20 1957
Choe Yong-gon
Date of birth/date of death:
Born June 21 1900. Died September 19 1976.
Korean Social Democratic Party
September 20 1957 – December 28 1972
Presidents of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Name
Political Party
Dates in Office
Kim Il-sung
Date of birth/date of death:
Born April 15 1912. Died July 8 1994.
Workers’ Party of Korea
December 28 1972 – July 8 1994
Following the death of Kim Il-sung on July 8 1994, the office of president was left vacant (the late leader received the title of Eternal President), and then eventually removed from the constitution altogether four years later. De facto, of course, real power continued to reside with Kim’s successors as Supreme Leader, his son Kim Jong-il and then grandson Kim Jong-un. One interpretation, preferred on Wikipedia, is that the functions and duties of the head of state were carried out by the President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim Yong-nam, from 1998 until 2009, and that constitutional amendments in 2009 made the Supreme Leader the functioning head of state. Nevertheless, neither Kim Jong-il nor Kim Jong-un have de jure served as heads of state.
Presidents of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly
Name
Political Party
Dates in Office
Kim Yong-nam
Date of birth/date of death:
Born February 4 1928. Died November 3 2025.
Workers’ Party of Korea
September 5 1998 – April 9 2009
Chairmen of the National Defence Commission
Name
Political Party
Dates in Office
Kim Jong-il
Date of birth/date of death:
Born February 16 1941/1942. Died December 17 2011.
Workers’ Party of Korea
April 9 20091 – December 17 2011
First Chairmen of the National Defence Commission
Name
Political Party
Dates in Office
Kim Jong-un
Date of birth/date of death:
Born January 8 1982.
Workers’ Party of Korea
April 11 2012 – June 29 2016
Presidents of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Name
Political Party
Dates in Office
Kim Jong-un
Date of birth/date of death:
Born January 8 1982.
Workers’ Party of Korea
June 29 2016 – present
Notes and References
[1] Kim Jong-il held this office since April 9 1993, but it only carried the functions of the head of state beginning in 2009.
Deputy Heads of State of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
List of Deputy Heads of State of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Vice Presidents of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Name
Political Party
Dates in Office
Choe Yong-gon
Date of birth/date of death:
Born June 21 1900. Died September 19 1976.
Korean Social Democratic Party
December 28 1972 – September 19 1976
Heads of Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
List of Heads of Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Premiers of the Cabinet of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Name
Political Party
Dates in Office
Kim Il-sung
Date of birth/date of death:
Born April 15 1912. Died July 8 1994.
Korean Workers’ Party
September 9 1948 – December 28 1972