Choe Thae-bok
Encyclopedia
Choe Thae-bok is a North Korea
n politician. He is a member of the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Workers' Party of Korea
, and has been Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly
since September 1998. He is considered an advisor to Kim Jong-il
, as well as a popular member of the core leadership.
He speaks fluent English, German, and Russian in addition to Korean.
, South Pyongan, in 1930. He was one of the first to study at the Mangyongdae School; later he studied chemistry
at the Kim Il-sung University, and later completed his studied in Leipzig
(then in East Germany) and Moscow
. After his return to the DPRK he worked as scoolteacher. Later, in the 1960s, he worked at the Hamhung
Chemical Engineering College as researcher, director of research of the Hamhung Branch of the Chemical Research Institute under the National Academy of Sciences (1965), and finally dean of the college (1968). In 1972 he started to work as section chief at the WPK Education Department, being its vice-director from 1976.
Starting from late 1970s, when he was appointed faculty dean and later president of the Kim Chaek University of Technology
, Choe Thae-bok took a more prominent role in the country's politics. In the 1980s he served as chairman of the Education Commission (from 1980) and minister of Higher Education (from 1981); in that capacities, he expanded cultural exchanges with other countries and programs to let North Korean students to study abroad.
Choe Thae-bok was first elected deputy to the Supreme People's Assembly
in 1982; in the same year, he led a SPA delegation to France
. This was only the first time he led DPRK delegations in official visits, including a journey in the socialist countries USSR, East Germany, China
and Bulgaria
in 1984–1985.
In 1984 he was appointed alternate member of the WPK Central Committee
, then full member and secretary in 1986 and Politburo member in 1990. As secretary, Choe Thae-bok was put in charge of education, science and cultural exchanges.
Choe Thae-bok was elected chairman of the 10th, 11th and 12th SPAs, a role that increased his involvement in foreign affairs. He also served as chairman of the Korean Committee for Solidarity with the World People from 1993 to 1998. Despite his alleged reformist views, he is reputedly close to Kim Jong-il's sister Kim Kyong-hui
and Vice President Yang Hyong-sop
of the SPA Presidium.
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
n politician. He is a member of the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Workers' Party of Korea
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...
, and has been Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly
Supreme People's Assembly
The Supreme People's Assembly is the unicameral parliament of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea...
since September 1998. He is considered an advisor to 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 well as a popular member of the core leadership.
He speaks fluent English, German, and Russian in addition to Korean.
Biography
Choe Thae-bok was born in NampoNampo
Namp'o is a city and seaport in South P'yŏngan Province, North Korea. It was a provincial-level Directly Governed City from 1980 to 2004, when it was designated a "Special City" and made a part of South P'yŏngan...
, South Pyongan, in 1930. He was one of the first to study at the Mangyongdae School; later he studied chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at the Kim Il-sung University, and later completed his studied in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
(then in East Germany) and Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. After his return to the DPRK he worked as scoolteacher. Later, in the 1960s, he worked at the Hamhung
Hamhung
Hamhŭng is North Korea's second largest city, and the capital of South Hamgyŏng Province. In late 2005, nearby Hŭngnam was made a ward within Hamhŭng-si. It has a population of 768,551 as of 2008.-Geography:...
Chemical Engineering College as researcher, director of research of the Hamhung Branch of the Chemical Research Institute under the National Academy of Sciences (1965), and finally dean of the college (1968). In 1972 he started to work as section chief at the WPK Education Department, being its vice-director from 1976.
Starting from late 1970s, when he was appointed faculty dean and later president of the Kim Chaek University of Technology
Kim Chaek University of Technology
Kim Chaek University of Technology is a university in North Korea, located on the bank of the Taedong River in Pyongyang.The university is named after General Kim Chaek....
, Choe Thae-bok took a more prominent role in the country's politics. In the 1980s he served as chairman of the Education Commission (from 1980) and minister of Higher Education (from 1981); in that capacities, he expanded cultural exchanges with other countries and programs to let North Korean students to study abroad.
Choe Thae-bok was first elected deputy to the Supreme People's Assembly
Supreme People's Assembly
The Supreme People's Assembly is the unicameral parliament of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea...
in 1982; in the same year, he led a SPA delegation to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. This was only the first time he led DPRK delegations in official visits, including a journey in the socialist countries USSR, East Germany, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
in 1984–1985.
In 1984 he was appointed alternate member of 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...
, then full member and secretary in 1986 and Politburo member in 1990. As secretary, Choe Thae-bok was put in charge of education, science and cultural exchanges.
Choe Thae-bok was elected chairman of the 10th, 11th and 12th SPAs, a role that increased his involvement in foreign affairs. He also served as chairman of the Korean Committee for Solidarity with the World People from 1993 to 1998. Despite his alleged reformist views, he is reputedly close to Kim Jong-il's sister Kim Kyong-hui
Kim Kyong-hui
General Kim Kyong-hui is the daughter of Kim Il-sung and his first wife Kim Jong-suk, and the sister of the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-il. An important member of Kim Jong-il's inner circle of trusted friends and advisors, she has been director of the Light Industry Department of the Workers'...
and Vice President Yang Hyong-sop
Yang Hyong-sop
Yang Hyong-sop is a North Korean politician. He was elected chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly in 1983, and served until 1998...
of the SPA Presidium.