List of Kim Jong Un's titles

Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Kim Jong Un, the current Supreme Leader of North Korea, holds many titles and offices. Currently, he holds the highest titles in the party, state and army, being General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.[1]

Usage in North Korean media

As of 2024, when Kim Jong Un is mentioned in North Korean media and publications, he is most commonly referred to as "Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un" (Korean: 경애하는 김정은동지), "Respected Comrade General Secretary" (경애하는 총비서동지), or "Marshal" (원수님).

Like his grandfather and father, when he is mentioned in North Korean media and publications, it is always accompanied by one or more of these titles. When his name is written, it is always emphasised by a special bold font or in a larger font size, for example: "Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Clarifies Plan to Form Area of Riverside Terraced Houses around Pothong Gate" or "Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Clarifies Plan to Form Area of Riverside Terraced Houses around Pothong Gate."[2]

His honorific titles would be used as a description added to his name or affectionate title. For example, "Comrade Kim Jong Un, who is an outstanding successor and leader of the Juche revolution, the symbol of strength of our state and the banner of all victory and glory" (주체혁명의 유일무이한 계승자이시고 령도자이시며 우리 국가의 강대성의 상징이시고 모든 승리와 영광의 기치이신 김정은동지).

List of official titles and offices

Current titles and offices

Chosŏn'gŭl (Hancha) DPRK McCune–Reischauer English Tenure Comment References
Party
조선로동당 총비서
(朝鮮勞動黨 總秘書) 		Chosŏn Rodongdang Ch'ongbisŏ General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea 10 January 2021 – incumbent Elected at the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea [3]
조선로동당 중앙위원회 정치국 상무위원회 위원
(朝鮮勞動黨 中央委員會 政治局 常務委員會 委員) 		chosŏllodongdang chungangwiwŏnhoe chŏngch'iguk sangmuwiwŏnhoe wiwŏn Member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea 11 April 2012 – incumbent Elected at 4th Conference of the WPK, re-elected at 7th and 8th Congress of the WPK. [3]
조선로동당 중앙위원회 정치국 위원
(朝鮮勞動黨 中央委員會 政治局 委員) 		chosŏllodongdang chungangwiwŏnhoe chŏngch'iguk wiwŏn Member of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea 11 April 2012 – incumbent Elected at 4th Conference of the WPK, re-elected at 7th and 8th Congress of the WPK [3]
조선로동당 중앙위원회 위원
(朝鮮勞動黨 中央委員會 委員) 		chosŏllodongdang chungangwiwŏnhoe wiwŏn Member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea 28 September 2010 – incumbent Elected at the 3rd Conference of the WPK, re-elected at 4th Conference, 7th and 8th Congress of the WPK. [3]
조선로동당 중앙군사위원회 위원장
(朝鮮勞動黨 中央軍事委員會 委員長) 		chosŏllodongdang chunganggunsawiwŏnhoe wiwŏnjang Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea 11 April 2012 – incumbent Elected at 4th Conference of the WPK, re-elected at 7th and 8th Congress of the WPK [3]
State
조선민주주의인민공화국 국무위원장
(朝鮮民主主義人民共和國 國務委員長) 		Chosŏn minjujuŭi inmin'gonghwaguk kukmu wiwŏnjang President of the State Affairs of the DPRK (lit. Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK) 29 June 2016 – incumbent Elected at the 4th Meeting of the 13th Supreme Peoples' Assembly. [4]
Army
조선민주주의인민공화국무력 최고사령관
(朝鮮民主主義人民共和國武力 最高司令官) 		Chosŏnminjujuŭiinmin'gonghwaguk muryŏkch'ongsaryŏnggwan Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 30 December 2011 – incumbent Appointed as per Kim Jong Il's final instructions. [3]
조선민주주의인민공화국 원수
(朝鮮民主主義人民共和國 元帥) 		Chosŏnminjujuŭiinmin'gonghwaguk Wonsu Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Promoted on the 18 July 2012. [3]

Previously held offices and titles

Chosŏn'gŭl (Hancha) DPRK McCune–Reischauer English Tenure Comment References
Party
조선로동당 중앙군사위원회 부위원장
(朝鮮勞動黨 中央軍事委員會 副委員長) 		Chosŏn Rodongdang chunggunsawiwŏnhoe puwiwŏnchang Vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea 28 September 2010 – 11 April 2012 Elected at the 3rd Conference of the Workers' Party of Korea. [3]
조선로동당 제1비서
(朝鮮勞動黨 第1秘書) 		Chosŏn Rodongdang cheilbisŏ First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea 11 April 2012 – 9 May 2016 Elected at 4th Conference of the Workers' Party of Korea. [3]
조선로동당 위원장
(朝鮮勞動黨 委員長) 		Chosŏn Rodongdang wiwŏnjang Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea 9 May 2016 – 10 January 2021 Elected at the 7th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea. [3]
State
조선민주주의인민공화국 국방위원회 제1위원장
(朝鮮民主主義人民共和國 國防委員會 第1委員長) 		chosŏnminjujuŭiinminkonghwaguk kukpangwiwŏnhoe cheilwiwŏnjang First Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK 13 April 2012 – 29 June 2016 Elected at the 5th session of the 12th Supreme Peoples' Assembly. [3]
Army
조선인민군 최고사령관
(朝鮮人民軍 最高司令官) 		Chosŏniinmin'gun ch'oegosaryŏnggwan Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army 30 December 2011 – incumbent Appointed as per Kim Jong Il's final instructions. [5][3]
조선인민군 대장
(朝鮮人民軍 大將) 		Chosŏninmin'gun daejang General of the Korean People's Army 27 September 2010 – 18 July 2012 Conferred upon Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Order No.0051 [6][3]

List of propagated titles

Chosŏn'gŭl (Hancha) DPRK McCune–Reischauer English Comment References
원수님 Wŏsunim Marshal Used to refer to Kim Jong Un without mentioning his name. [7]
경애하는 원수님 Kyŏngaehanŭn Wŏsunim Dear Respected Marshal
아버지 원수님 Abŏji Wŏsunim Father Marshal Same as above, but is only rarely used in news articles and media pertaining to the youth. The earliest instance of this is from a song called 'Oh dear Marshal' (아 그리운 원수님) by the Moranbong Band in 2016. [8][9]
최고령도자 Choegoryŏngdoja Supreme Leader Used as "Supreme Leader of our Party and our people" (우리 당과 우리 인민의 최고령도자) in various iterations from 2011 to 2017, "Supreme Leader of our Party, state and armed forces" (우리 당과 국가,무력의 최고령도자) from 2017 to 2021. Fell completely out of use after the 8th Congress of the WPK. [10]
우리 당과 국가, 무력의 최고령도자 Uridanggwa kukkawa mulyeogŭi choegoryŏngdoja Supreme Leader of our Party, State and Armed Forces Often used after his full list of titles is mentioned from 2017 to 2021. [11]
경애하는 최고사령관동지 Choegosaryŏnggwan Respected Supreme Commander Used in the military without mentioning his name. [citation needed]
경애하는 최고령도자동지 Choegoryŏngdojadongji Respected Comrade Supreme Leader Used without mentioning his name. Used from 2017 to 2021.
경애하는 총비서동지 Chongbiseodongji Respected Comrade General Secretary In use since the 8th Congress of the WPK, where he was elected General Secretary of the WPK, in 2021. [12]
자애로운 아버지 Chaaeroun Abŏji Beloved Father
주체조선의 태양 Chuch'ejosŏnŭi t'aeyang Sun of Juche Korea
장군 Janggun General [citation needed]
청년대장 Chongnyeondaejang Young General He was often called this during his hereditary succession campaign.[13][14] [15]
영명한 동지 Yeongmyeonghan dongji Brilliant Comrade [14]
각하 Kakha His Excellency Used in by foreign dignitaries in international communication. [16]
주체혁명의 탁월한 령도자 Chuch'ehyŏngmyŏngŭi t'agwŏrhan ryŏngdoja Outstanding Leader of the Juche Revolution [11]
주체혁명의 유일무이한 계승자이시고 령도자 Chuch'ehyŏngmyŏngŭi yuilmuihan kyesŭngjaishigo ryŏngdoja The only and unique successor and leader of the Juche Revolution [11]
우리 국가의 강대성의 상징 Uri kukkaŭi kangdaesŏngŭi sangjing A symbol of the mightyness of our country [11]
모든 승리와 영광의 기치 Modŭn sŭngniwa yŏnggwangŭi kich'i Banner of all victory and glory -
위대한 령도자 Widaehan ryŏngdoja Great Leader Used on very rare occasions, usually more common in slogans during major national events such as elections at party congresses. [11]
절세의 위인 Chŏlseŭi wiin Peerlessly Great Man [17]
우리 당과 국가,무력의 위대한 수반 Uri tanggwa kukkiwa maryŏŭi widaehan suban Great Leader of our Party, State and Armed Forces Used after the 8th Congress of the WPK in 2021.

See also

Held titles

References

  1. ^ "Peerlessly Great Men". Uriminzokkiri. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Clarifies Plan to Form Area of Riverside Terraced Houses around Pothong Gate". KCNA. 2021. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "경애하는 김정은동지". Nae Nara (in Korean). March 2021. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Sends Congratulations to Lao President". Chongnyon Chonwi. 26 March 2021. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023 – via KCNA Watch.
  5. ^ "ko:조선인민군 최고사령관 김정은동지께서 조선인민군 제２６４대련합부대 지휘부를 시찰하시였다". ko:웹 우리 동포 (in Korean). 24 May 2015. Archived from the original on 26 July 2023.
  6. ^ "력사적인 조선로동당 제3차대표자회". Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  7. ^ 경애하는 김정은원수님께 재중조선인총련합회가 편지를 드리였다 (in Korean). KCNA. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  8. ^ "청년학생들의 무도회 진행". Korean Central News Agency. KCNA. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ "Moranbong Band - Oh dear Marshal (아 그리운 원수님) - YouTube". YouTube. Moranbong Band Po Polsku. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  10. ^ 경애하는 김정은동지께서 보통문주변 강안지구에 호안다락식주택구를 새로 일떠세울 구상을 밝히시였다 (in Korean). KCNA. 2021. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ^ a b c d e f 조선로동당과 조선인민의 위대한 령도자 김정은동지께 최대의 영광을 드립니다. DPRK Today (in Korean). 1 October 2021. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  12. ^ 전국각지에 양로원들이 훌륭히 꾸려졌다 (in Korean). KCNA. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Party Conference a Coronation?". North Korea Leadership Watch. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  14. ^ a b "North Korean leader's son is 'Brilliant Comrade'", The Jakarta Post, 13 June 2009[full citation needed]
  15. ^ Tertitskiy, Fyodor (2 March 2018). "Cults of the forgotten wives: Kim Song Ae and Ko Yong Hui". NK News. Archived from the original on 16 July 2023.
  16. ^ [김정일 사망]北 노동신문, 김정은에 '각하' 호칭. 영주일보. 21 December 2011.[dead link‍]
  17. ^ 경애하는 김정은동지께서 우리 당과 국가의 최고수위에 높이 추대되신 9돐을 맞으며-. Uri Minzokkiri. Archived from the original on 6 August 2022.