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The origins of the Workers' Party of Korea revealed: How was this party born in 1949?
The Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) is the only ruling party in North Korea. It was founded in 1949 from the merger of the Workers' Party of North Korea and the Workers' Party of South Korea. The party became the oldest active political party in South Korea and controls the Korean People's Army, responsible for the country's armed forces. The WPK is the largest representative party in the Supreme People's Assembly, coexisting with two other parties, but these two parties must obey the "leadership role" of the WPK. In South Korea, the WPK is banned under national security laws and is subject to sanctions by the United Nations, the European Union, Australia and the United States.
“WPK is currently considered the most influential political party in North Korea, and its political ideologies are constantly evolving.”
The WPK is officially described as a communist party guided by Kim Il-sungism-Kim Jong-ilism, a synthesis of the ideas of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. The party is committed to the concept of "self-reliance", which was centered on Kim Il-sung and advocated achieving national independence and development through the efforts of the people. While self-reliance was originally seen as a North Korean interpretation of Marxism-Leninism, it has now been declared an independent philosophical thought.
In addition to the Kim family, the source of the WPK's political ideology can almost be attributed to the leadership of the Kim family. At the Fourth Party Congress held in 2012, the Party Constitution was revised to Kim Il-sungism-Kim Jong-ilism as the "only guiding ideology of the Party." Under Kim Jong Il's rule, the country's ideology gradually shifted from communism to a military-first policy and emphasis on military-based political power.
However, Kim Jong-un's coming to power has changed this direction again. In 2021, "people-centered politics" was re-established as the party's political policy, once again emphasizing the promise of communism.
Early History
On October 13, 1945, the North Korean Bureau of the Communist Party of North Korea was established, and Kim Yong-fan became the first chairman. Subsequently, this organization became the Communist Party of Korea in the spring of 1946, and subsequently held a founding congress to establish the Workers' Party of North Korea. Although Kim Il-sung did not expand his power quickly in the early days, he gradually consolidated his leadership over time.
"Kim Il-sung's power gradually consolidated over time and began to exclude competitors from other parties."
On June 24, 1949, the WPK was formed by the merger of the Workers' Party of North Korea and the Workers' Party of South Korea. During this period, Kim Il-sung was not the most enthusiastic advocate of a unified Korea through military means, a role that was largely played by the communists in South Korea. However, after several meetings, North Korea chose to launch an invasion of South Korea in 1950, starting the Korean War.
Kim Il-sung's consolidation of powerAs the Korean War ended, Kim Il-sung's relations with the Soviet Communist Party deteriorated, and he successfully maintained a balance between China and the Soviet Union. With the end of the Korean War, his personality cult reached an unprecedented height and he became the most important symbol of the country.
"Kim Il-sung's personality cult reached new heights, with him being called the 'Great Leader' and the 'Sunshine of the Nation'."
Kim Il-sung eliminated dissenters and made himself the sole leader of North Korea, which is why the Kim family's rule has continued to this day. In the following decades, Kim Il-sung further strengthened his family's centralization of power, forming a hereditary ruling structure.
Kim Jong-il's ruleKim Jong Il officially took over in 1980, formally changing the regime's operating model. After years of economic hardship and domestic unrest, his rule began to focus on strengthening the military and its influence over the regime. In the 1990s, Kim Jong Il faced greater challenges to his authority, and he was forced to transfer more and more power to the military and eventually amend the constitution to strengthen the military's leadership.
Kim Jong-un's rule"The challenges Kim Jong-il faces and his adjustments to the power structure have caused the political winds in North Korea to change again."
After Kim Jong Il's death in 2011, Kim Jong Un ascended to the throne and quickly gained support from the political circles. Under his rule, the WPK experienced a period of revitalization, with frequent meetings and decision-making showing vitality within the party. With the convening of the latest eight party congresses, Kim Jong-un began to reaffirm communism and related ideas and incorporate the new concept of "people-centered politics" into the party's guiding ideology.
Therefore, since its birth in 1949, the development and changes of the Workers' Party of Korea have not only affected the political ecology of North Korea, but also had a profound impact on the power structure of South Korea and international politics. Will there be a day when this party will further transform and move towards a new direction of development that people can look forward to?"What changes will the Workers' Party of Korea face in the future under Kim Jong-un's leadership, and what will be its impact on the situation on the Korean Peninsula?"
