2nd Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea

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2nd Central Committee
← 1st
3rd →
30 March 1948 – 29 April 1956
(8 years, 30 days)
Overview
TypeCentral Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
Election2nd Congress
Leadership
ChairmanKim Il Sung (49–56)
Kim Tu-bong
Vice ChairmenKim Il Sung
Chu Yong-ha
First SecretaryHo Ka-i
Second SecretaryYi Sung-yop
Third SecretaryKim Sam-yong
Political Committee14 members
Standing Committee16 members
Organisation Committee11 members
Members
Total98
Candidates
Total20

The 2nd Central Committee (2nd CC) of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) was elected at the 2nd Congress on 30 March 1948,[1] and remained in session until the election of the 3rd Central Committee on 29 April 1956.[2] In between party congresses and specially convened conferences the Central Committee is the highest decision-making institution in the WPK and North Korea.[3] The 2nd Central Committee was not a permanent institution and delegated day-to-day work to elected bodies, such as the Political Committee, the Standing Committee, the Organisation Committee and the Inspection Committee in this case.[4] It convened meetings, known as "Plenary Session of the [term] Central Committee", to discuss major policies.[5] Only full members had the right to vote, but if a full member could not attend a plenary session, the person's spot was taken over by an alternate.[5] Plenary session could also be attended by non-members, such meetings are known as "Enlarged Plenary Session", to participate in the committee's discussions.[5] During its tenure it held five plenary sessions, one enlarged session, seven joint plenary sessions and four stand-alone plenums.[6]

A feature of North Korean politics was its factionalism.[7] Four loosely defined factions were struggling for dominance; Kim Il Sung's partisans, domestic communists, the Yanan group and the Soviet Koreans.[note 1][7] The 2nd CC, which consisted of 67 members and 20 alternate members, was divided along factional lines.[9] Of the 67 members, 30 had served in the 1st Central Committee.[10] Among those not reelected were Chon Song-hwa and Chong Tal-hyon from the domestic faction.[10] The position of the partisan faction was strengthened, with Kang Kon, Kim Kwang-hyop, Kim Kyong-sok and Pak Kum-chol being elected to the 2nd Central Committee.[10] Despite this, the domestic faction had the most representation on the 2nd CC.[10] Further the 2nd CC reelected Yanan communist Kim Tu-bong as Chairman of the Central Committee while partisan Kim Il Sung and Chu Yong-ha from the domestic group were elected to the office of Vice Chairman.[10] All the members of the 1st Political Committee were re-elected, while two new were added; Kim Chaek and Pak Il-u.[10] Upon the merger of the Workers' Party of North Korea and the Workers' Party of South Korea (WPSK) on 24 June 1949, the 2nd Central Committee merged with the 1st WPSK Central Committee and gained 31 new members.[11] The newly expanded 2nd CC elected Kim Il Sung as chairman and domestic communist Pak Hon-yong and Soviet Korean Ho Ka-i as vice chairmen.[12] Also, Ho Ka-i with domestic communists (and former WPSK members) Yi Sung-yop and Kim Sam-yong were elected First, Second and Third Secretary respectively in charge of administrative affairs.[12] Thirty-six individuals were re-elected to the 3rd Central Committee, of these 29 were original members of the WPNK's 2nd CC.[12]

The first moves to purge the domestic faction from WPK political life began at the 5th Joint Plenary Session, held 15–18 December 1952.[13] In his report to the plenum Kim Il Sung talked about defects in party work and accused certain people, without mentioning names, of lacking proper "Party character", forsaking the masses, not performing duties assigned to them and not criticising party policy through proper party channels.[13] Shortly after the plenary session Yim Hwa was arrested for writing for anti-communist thinking for writing the following lines in a poem; "Forests were put to the fire; houses were burned. If Stalin comes to Korea, there is not a house to put him up for the night."[13] Continuing up to December 1952 several other figures were arrested, such as Kim Nam-chon, Kim Ki-rim, Kim O-song and Kwon O-jik.[13] Several others were secretly arrested as the purge was carried outside the public eye.[13] On 15 February 1953 an editorial in Rodong Sinmun stated that, in line with the 5th Joint Plenary Session, certain factionalists had become a "target of our hatred".[14] Mentioned by name was Yim Hwa, Chu Yong-ha, Kim Nam-chon and Cho Il-hae, but the editorial noted that there were "others" as well.[14] They were charged with "not trusting the Party, and with slandering Party Policy and Party leadership."[14] The editorial noted that the Party had been tolerant of their behaviour, but stated that when given the chance to apologise the accused did not admit their mistakes and/or gave half-hearted apologies.[15] Chu Yong-ha, instead of apologising for his supposed misdeeds, openly criticised the leadership of the WPK.[15] While no public criticism was aired at Pak Hon-yong at the time, he was not heard, seen in public or reported on since February 1953.[16]

Around the same time, the Kim Il Sung group moved against WPK First Secretary Ho Ka-i, who under pressure either committed suicide or was murdered on 2 July 1953.[16] The suicide was announced at the 6th Joint Plenary Session, held on 4–6 August 1953, as well as the expulsion from the party of Pak Hon-yong and other leading WPSK officials.[16] During the plenum, on 3–6 August, a trial conducted by the Military Tribunal Department of the Supreme Court involving twelve defendants was organised.[note 2][17] The defendants were accused of spying for the United States Government and infiltrating the North Korean Government and the WPK.[18] Pak Hon-yong, as the ringleader of the alleged conspiracy, was accused of seeking to overthrow the North Korean government and the WPK leadership, and seeking to restore capitalism.[19] Pak Hon-yong was not put on trial before 15 December 1955, in which he was trialled by a special session of the Supreme Court in which the judges were leading politicians of the WPK.[20] He was accused of becoming "a traitor of the revolution" in 1939 and of "disguising himself as a patriot", and was executed for his supposed crimes on 18 December 1955.[21] This supposed conspiracy helped explain North Korea's defeat in the Korean War, and further rationalise Kim Il Sung's growing dominance over the WPK and state machinery.[22]

Plenary sessions

Plenum Start–end Length Agenda
1st Plenary Session 31 March 1948 1 day
1 item.
  • Elections of the Officers of the 2nd Central Committee.
2nd Plenary Session 12 July 1948 1 day
2 items.
3rd Plenary Session 24–25 September 1948 2 days
3 items.
  • On party organisational tasks and the Supreme People's Assembly's election results.
  • Debate on the collection of textile tax and increased agricultural production of grains in 1949.
  • Concerning organisational matters:
    • Election of Vice Chairman of the Party;
    • Elections to the Standing Committee;
    • Decision on establishing the Organisational Committee of the 2nd Central Committee;
      • Election of members to the Organisational Committee;
    • Election of the Chairman of the 2nd Auditing and 2nd Inspection commissions;
    • General debate on the farewell ceremony for Soviet forces.
4th Plenary Session 9–14 December 1948 5 days Not made public.
5th Plenary Session 12–13 February 1949 2 days
4 items.
  • On the strengthening of the party's leadership. Summation of the work of lower-level party organisations in the last nine months.
  • Debate on the party's tasks to realise economic reconstruction in the period 1949–50.
  • Debate on the party organisation report in the upcoming elections to the people's committees of provinces, cities, counties and districts.
  • Decision on establishing the Chagang Provincial Committee and lower-level organisations of the party in connection with the establishment of Chagang Province and its administrative structures.
6th Enlarged Plenary Session 11 June 1949 1 day
2 items.
1st Joint Plenary Session 24 June 1949 1 day
3 items.
  • Decision on forming the Workers' Party of Korea.
  • Election of Officers of the 2nd Central Committee.
  • Restructuring of the committees subordinate to the Central Committee.
2nd Joint Plenary Session 15–18 December 1949 3 days
3 items.
3rd Joint Plenary Session 21–23 December 1950 3 days
3 items.
  • Report by Kim Il-sung, known as "The Present Situation and Our Tasks".
  • Problems arising from the unification of the workers' organisations of North and South Korea.
  • Debate on organisational problems.
4th Joint Plenary Session 1–4 November 1951 4 days
2 items.
5th Joint Plenary Session 15–18 December 1952 4 days
6th Joint Plenary Session 4–6 August 1953 3 days
3 items.
7th Joint Plenary Session 21–23 March 1954 3 days
March Plenary Session 21–23 March 1954 3 days
2 items.
November Plenary Session 1–3 April 1955 3 days
6 items.
April Plenary Session 1–4 December 1955 4 days
December Plenary Session 2–3 December 1955 2 days
3 items.
  • Concerning the decisions made at the November Plenary Session on the development of agriculture.
  • Concerning the convocation of the 3rd Party Congress
    • Decision on holding the congress in April 1956;
    • Decision on the Agenda of the 3rd Party Congress:
      1. Report on the work of the 2nd Central Committee, presented by Kim Il-sung;
      2. Report on the work of the 2nd Central Auditing Commission, presented by Yi Chu-yon;
      3. Report on the work of the Bylaw Revision Committee, presented by Pak Chong-ae;
      4. Election of the 3rd Central Committee and the 3rd Central Auditing Commission
  • Debate on the party's organisational problems.
References:
[6]

Members

1st Plenary Session (1946–49)

Full

Rank Name
Hangul
Level of government
(Offices held)
1st CC 3rd CC Inner-composition Background
2nd POC 2nd STC 2nd ORG 2nd INS
1 Kim Tu-bong Old Reelected Chairman Chairman
Yanan
2 Kim Il Sung Old Reelected Member Member Member
Partisan
3 Ho Ka-i Old Demoted Member Member Member
Soviet
4 Chu Yong-ha
Central
Old Expelled Member Member
Domestic
5 Kim Chaek
Central
Old Demoted Member Member
Partisan
6 Choe Chang-ik Old Reelected Member Member
Yanan
7 Pak Il-u Old Demoted Member Member
Yanan
8 Pak Chong-ae
Central
Old Reelected
Member Member
Domestic
9 Kim Kyo-yong
Old Demoted
Partisan
10 Chong Chun-taek
Central
New Reelected
Member
Partisan
11 Pak Chang-ok
New Reelected
Member
Soviet
12 Kim Il
Central
Old Reelected
Member
Partisan
13 Kim Chae-uk
Old Demoted
Member
Soviet
14 Kim Hwang-il
New Reelected
Domestic
15 Kim Yol
Old Demoted
Member Member
Soviet
16 Choe Kyong-dok
Central
Old Demoted
Domestic
17 Kim Min-san
Old Demoted
Yanan
18 Choe Suk-yang
Old Demoted
19 Chin Pan-su
New Reelected
Member
Soviet
20 Kang Chin-gon
Central
Old Reelected
Domestic
21 Han Il-mu
Old Reelected
Soviet
22 Pak Hun-il
Old Reelected
Yanan
23 Choe Chae-rin
New Demoted
Partisan
24 Han Sol-ya
Old Reelected
Domestic
25 Yi Hui-jun
New Demoted
Soviet
26 Kang Kon
New Demoted
Partisan
27 Kim Sung-hwa
New Demoted
Soviet
28 Ki Sok-bok
Central
New Demoted
Member
Soviet
29 Ho Chong-suk New Reelected
Yanan
30 Yi Chung-gun
New Demoted
Domestic
31 Tae Song-su
Old Demoted
Soviet
32 Chang Sun-myong Old Demoted
Chairman Soviet
33 Kim Ung-gi
New Reelected
Domestic
34 Kim Ko-mang
New Demoted
Member Domestic
35 Mu Chong
Old Demoted
Yanan
36 Pak Chang-sik
New Demoted
Soviet
37 Yi Puk-myong
New Demoted
Domestic
38 Pak Hyo-sam
Old Demoted
Yanan
39 Kim Sang-chol
New Reelected
Domestic
40 Chang Si-u Old Expelled
Domestic
41 Chong Tu-hyon
Old Demoted
Domestic
42 O Ki-sop
Old Reelected
Domestic
43 Song Che-jun
Old Demoted
44 Kim Chik-hyong
New Reelected
Domestic
45 Yi Sun-gun
Old Demoted
Domestic
46 Kim Kwang-hyop
New Reelected
Partisan
47 Yi Chong-ik
Old Demoted
Member Domestic
48 Chang Hae-u
New Demoted
Member Domestic
49 Yi Tong-hwa
New Demoted
Soviet
50 Yim Hae
Old Reelected
Partisan
51 Jong Il-ryong
New Reelected
Member
Domestic
52 Pang Hak-se
New Reelected
Member Soviet
53 Cho Yong
New Reelected
Yanan
54 Kim Ung
New Reelected
Soviet
55 Pak Mu
New Reelected
Yanan
56 Kim Yong-su
New Demoted
Soviet
57 Chang Chol
New Demoted
Member Yanan
58 Kim Tae-ryon
New Demoted
59 Yi Kwon-mu
New Reelected
Yanan
60 Kim Kyong-sok
New Reelected
Partisan
61 Kim Han-jung
New Demoted
Yanan
62 Pak Yong-son
New Demoted
Member Member
Domestic
63 Ri Yu-min
Central
New Reelected
Yanan
64 Kim Kwang-bin
New Demoted
65 Yi Song-un
New Reelected
Partisan
66 Pak Kum-chol
New Reelected
Partisan
67 Kim Chan
New Demoted
Soviet
References:
[24][25][26][27][28]

Alternates

Rank Name
Hangul
1st CC 3rd CC Background
1 Pak Won-sul New Demoted
2 Yi Yong-hwa New Demoted
3 Kim Chin-yo New Demoted
4 Chae Kyu-hong New Demoted
5 Han Ang-chon New Full Yanan
6 Pak Yong-hwa New Demoted
7 Pak Tong-cho New Demoted
8 Kang Yong-chang New Full Domestic
9 Choe Kwang-yol New Demoted Yanan
10 Yi Kyu-hwan New Reelected
11 Nam Il New Full
12 Chang Wi-sam New Demoted Soviet
13 Ko Pong-gi New Full
14 Kim Tae-hwa New Demoted
15 Kye Tong-son New Demoted
16 Kim Tu-yong New Demoted
17 Yi Hyo-sun New Full Partisan
18 Yi Chi-chan New Reelected
19 Yi Yong-som New Demoted
20 Choe Pong-su New Demoted Soviet
References:
[24][25][26][27][28]

1st Joint Plenary Session (1949–56)

Name
Hangul
Level of government
(Offices held)
1st CC 3rd CC Inner-composition Background
2nd POC 2nd STC 2nd SEC 2nd ORG 2nd INS
An Ki-song
WPSK Expelled
Domestic
Chang Chol
New Demoted
Member Yanan
Chang Hae-u
New Demoted
Member Domestic
Chang Si-u
Central
Old Expelled
Domestic
Chang Sun-myong
Central
Old Demoted
Chairman Soviet
Chin Pan-su
Central
New Reelected
Soviet
Cho Pok-ye
New Expelled
Cho Yong
New Reelected
Yanan
Choe Chae-rin
New Demoted
Partisan
Choe Chang-ik
Central
Old Reelected
Member
Member
Yanan
Choe Kyong-dok
Central
Old Demoted
Domestic
Choe Suk-yang
Old Demoted
Choe Won-taek
Central
New Reelected
Member
Partisan
Chong Chun-taek New Reelected
Partisan
Chong Il-yong
Central
New Reelected
Member
Domestic
Chong No-sik
WPSK Demoted
Domestic
Chong Tu-hyon
Old Demoted
Partisan
Chong Yun
WPSK Demoted
Domestic
Chu Yong-ha
Old Expelled
Domestic
Han Il-mu
Old Reelected
Soviet
Han Sol-ya
Old Reelected
Domestic
Ho Chong-suk New Reelected
Yanan
Ho Hon
Central
WPSK Died Member
Member
Domestic
Ho Ka-i
Central
Old Died V. Chairman V. Chairman 1. Secretary Member
Soviet
Ho Song-taek
Central
WPSK Reelected
Domestic
Hong Nam-pyo WPSK Demoted
Domestic
Hwang Tae-song
New Demoted
Hyon U-hyon
WPSK Demoted
Domestic
Kang Chin-gon
Central
Old Reelected
Domestic
Kang Kon
New Demoted
Partisan
Kang Mun-sok
WPSK Demoted
Member
Domestic
Ki Sok-bok
Central
New Demoted
Soviet
Kim Chae-uk
Old Demoted
Soviet
Kim Chaek
Central
Old Died Member
Member
Partisan
Kim Chan
New Demoted
Soviet
Kim Chik-hyong
New Reelected
Domestic
Kim Chin-guk
WPSK Demoted
Domestic
Kim Han-jung
New Demoted
Yanan
Kim Hwang-il
New Reelected
Member
Domestic
Kim Il
Central
Old Reelected V. Chairman V. Chairman
Partisan
Kim Il Sung Old Reelected Chairman Chairman
Member
Partisan
Kim Ko-mang
New Demoted
Member Domestic
Kim Kwang-bin
New Demoted
Kim Kwang-hyop
New Reelected
Member
Partisan
Kim Kwang-su
WPSK Expelled
Domestic
Kim Kye-rim
WPSK Demoted
Domestic
Kim Kyo-yong
Old Demoted
Partisan
Kim Kyong-sok
New Reelected
Partisan
Kim Min-san
Old Demoted
Yanan
Kim O-song
WPSK Expelled
Domestic
Kim Sam-yong
WPSK Died Member
3. Secretary Member
Domestic
Kim Sang-chol
New Reelected
Domestic
Kim Sang-hyok
WPSK Reelected
Domestic
Kim Sung-hwa New Demoted
Member
Soviet
Kim Tae-jun
WPSK Demoted
Domestic
Kim Tae-ryon
New Demoted
Kim Tu-bong Old Reelected Member
Member
Yanan
Kim Ung
New Reelected
Soviet
Kim Ung-bin
WPSK Expelled
Domestic
Kim Ung-gi
Central
New Reelected
Chairman Domestic
Kim Yol
Old Demoted
Member
Soviet
Kim Yong-am
WPSK Demoted
Domestic
Kim Yong-jae
WPSK Demoted
Domestic
Kim Yong-su
New Demoted
Soviet
Ko Chan-bo
WPSK Demoted
Domestic
Ku Chae-su
Central
WPSK Expelled
Domestic
Mu Chong
Old Expelled
Yanan
Nam Il
Central
New Reelected
Member
Soviet
O Ki-sop
Old Reelected
Domestic
Pak Chang-ok
Central
New Reelected V. Chairman V. Chairman
Soviet
Pak Chong-ae Old Reelected V. Chairman V. Chairman
Domestic
Pak Chang-sik
New Demoted
Soviet
Pak Hon-yong WPSK Expelled V. Chairman V. Chairman
Member
Domestic
Pak Hun-il
Old Reelected
Yanan
Pak Hyo-sam
Old Demoted
Yanan
Pak Il-u Old Expelled Member
Member
Yanan
Pak Kum-chol
Central
New Reelected V. Chairman V. Chairman
Partisan
Pak Kyong-su
New Demoted
Pak Mu
New Reelected
Yanan
Pak Mun-gyu
Central
WPSK Reelected
Domestic
Pak Yong-bin
Central
New Demoted V. Chairman V. Chairman
Soviet
Pak Yong-son
New Demoted
Domestic
Pang Hak-se
Central
New Reelected
Member Soviet
Song Che-jun
Old Demoted
Song Ul-su
WPSK Reelected
Domestic
Song Yu-gyong
WPSK Demoted
Domestic
Tae Song-su
Old Demoted
Soviet
Yi Chae-nam
WPSK Demoted
Domestic
Yi Chon-jin
WPSK Expelled
Domestic
Yi Chong-ik
Old Demoted
Member Domestic
Yi Chu-ha
WPSK Demoted
Domestic
Yi Chu-sang
New Expelled
Yi Chung-gun
New Demoted
Domestic
Yi Hui-jun
New Demoted
Yi Hyon-sang
WPSK Demoted
Domestic
Yi Ki-sok
Central
WPSK Demoted
V. Chairman Domestic
Yi Kwon-mu
New Reelected
Yanan
Yi Puk-myong
New Demoted
Domestic
Yi Song-un
New Reelected
Partisan
Yi Sun-gun
Old Demoted
Domestic
Yi Sung-yop
Central
WPSK Expelled Member
2. Secretary Member
Domestic
Yi Tong-hwa
New Demoted
Soviet
Yi Yong-som
New Demoted
Ri Yu-min
New Reelected
Yanan
Yim Hae
Old Reelected
Partisan
Yu Chuk-un
New Demoted
Yu Yong-jun
Central
WPSK Demoted
Domestic
Yun Hyong-sik
New Demoted
References:
[24][25][26][27][28]

Noter

  1. ^ While a hallmark of early North Korean politics is factionalism, scholars Scalapino and Lee notes that "To place too much emphasis upon factional affiliation is probably a mistake, especially concerning the so-called Soviet and Yan'an factions. Defectors have often stated that the factional divisions were neither as clear-cut nor as meaningful in all cases as non-Communist sources alleged. Moreover, as a careful survey of this period reveals, increasingly the only meaningful faction was coming to be Kim Il-sung, and the crucial factor, one's personal relationship to Kim, irrespective of one's background. Nevertheless, there were differences in background, educational experience, and even culture that stemmed from the heterogeneous nature of the Korean revolutionary movement. And this did constitute a political problem, as the Korean Communists themselves readily admitted. While factionalism may not have been as important as some South Korean writers have indicated, and undoubtedly involved many more ambivalent and poorly defined factions, it remained a crucial issue in this period."[8]
  2. ^ The following stood on trial in August 1953:[17]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Suh 1981, p. 285.
  2. ^ Suh 1981, pp. 291–2.
  3. ^ Suh 1981, p. 271.
  4. ^ Suh 1981, p. 271 & 319–22.
  5. ^ a b c Suh 1981, p. 277.
  6. ^ a b Suh 1981, pp. 285–91.
  7. ^ a b Lankov 2002, p. 82.
  8. ^ Scalapino & Lee 1972, pp. 479–80.
  9. ^ Suh 1981, pp. 319–20.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Suh 1988, p. 91.
  11. ^ Suh 1981, pp. 318–20.
  12. ^ a b c Suh 1981, p. 321.
  13. ^ a b c d e Scalapino & Lee 1972, p. 438.
  14. ^ a b c Scalapino & Lee 1972, p. 436.
  15. ^ a b Scalapino & Lee 1972, p. 437.
  16. ^ a b c Scalapino & Lee 1972, p. 440.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Scalapino & Lee 1972, pp. 440–1.
  18. ^ Scalapino & Lee 1972, p. 441.
  19. ^ Scalapino & Lee 1972, p. 444.
  20. ^ Scalapino & Lee 1972, p. 448.
  21. ^ Scalapino & Lee 1972, p. 449–51.
  22. ^ Scalapino & Lee 1972, p. 451.
  23. ^ Suh 1981, p. 286.
  24. ^ a b c Suh 1981, pp. 319–22.
  25. ^ a b c Suh 1981, pp. 392–93.
  26. ^ a b c Suh 1981, p. 448.
  27. ^ a b c Suh 1981, pp. 459–82.
  28. ^ a b c Paik 1993, pp. 821–26.

Bibliography

Books:

  • Lankov, Andrey (2002). From Stalin to Kim Il Sung: The Formation of North Korea, 1945–1960. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 978-0813531175.
  • Scalapino, Robert; Lee, Chong-sik (1972). Communism in Korea: The Movement. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0520020801.
  • Suh, Dae-sook (1981). Korean Communism 1945–1980: A Reference Guide to the Political System (1st ed.). University Press of Hawaii. ISBN 0-8248-0740-5.
  • Suh, Dae-sook (1988). Kim Il Sung: The North Korean Leader (1st ed.). Columbia University Press. ISBN 0231065736.
  • Suh, Dae-Sook; Lee, Chae-Jin (2014). Political Leadership in Korea. University of Washington Press. ISBN 978-0-295-80280-0.

Dissertations: