The Organization and Guidance Department (OGD) is a department of the Central Committee of the

Workers' Party of Korea The Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) is the founding and sole ruling party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea. Founded in 1949 from the merger of the Workers' Party of North Korea and the Workers' Party ...

(WPK), the ruling party of

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu (Amnok) and T ...

. Its central responsibility is to implement the directives and teachings of the ''Suryeongs'' reat Leaders

Kim Il-sung Kim Il-sung (; , ; born Kim Song-ju, ; 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was a North Korean politician and the founder of North Korea, which he ruled from the country's establishment in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of ...

and Kim Jong-il. The department was initially a department within the WPK General Affairs Department, but eventually spun off and was established at the 3rd Plenary Session of the 2nd Central Committee as the Organization Committee.

Mission

The OGD is a powerful department of the WPK that guides the implementation of all Party life policy, which extends to nearly every aspect of life in North Korea from civilian, to military, to government. The OGD also serves as the staff for the Central Committee and Central Military Committee, and controls key personnel in the government, WPK, and

Korean People's Army The Korean People's Army (KPA; ) is the military force of North Korea and the armed wing of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). Under the '' Songun'' policy, it is the central institution of North Korean society. Currently, WPK General S ...

(KPA). This control stems from the OGD's power to select and dismiss high-ranking officials based on the monitoring it does, records it collects, and investigations it runs, making it one of the most powerful and feared departments of the WPK. The OGD is also responsible for administering party life guidance to secure loyalty to the Kim dynasty and maintain Party ideology, overseeing guidance implementation down to a local and even workplace level. It does this through local Organization Departments, which are a part of every KWP Committee and have political power due to their close link to the OGD. Since every North Korean citizen experiences party life in some form, regardless of actually joining the party, the OGD and its guidance have a direct effect on the lives of every North Korean from the highest to lowest level.

Power

Due to a lack of information on the OGD from the North Korean government, there is a heavy reliance on defector testimony and expert analysis. Polish political scientist Nicolas Levi refers to the OGD as "The heart of the North Korean political system". According to North Korean defector

Jang Jin-sung Jang Jin-sung ( ko, 장진성; born c. 1970–1971) is the pseudonym of a North Korean poet and government official who defected to South Korea. He had worked as a psychological warfare officer within the United Front Department of the Korean Wor ...

, the OGD is "the only entity that actually matters when it comes to decision-making or policy-making" and reflects the

autocratic Autocracy is a system of government in which absolute power over a state is concentrated in the hands of one person, whose decisions are subject neither to external legal restraints nor to regularized mechanisms of popular control (except per ...

structure of the government.

Hwang Jang-yop Hwang Jang-yop ( ko, 황장엽; 17 February 192310 October 2010) was a North Korean politician who served as the Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly from 1972–1983 and was largely responsible for crafting ''Juche'', the state ideology o ...

, another high-ranking defector, stated that the leading figures of North Korea belong to the OGD. Its officials regularly accompany the Supreme Leader during inspections and field guidance appearances. Some of its powers were given to the WPK Administrative Department (AD), in a bid to weaken the influence of those working in the OGD. However the AD itself was abolished in February 2014, after the execution of the AD Head

Jang Song-thaek Jang Song-thaek (January or February 1946 – 12 December 2013) was a leading figure in the government of North Korea. He was married to Kim Kyong-hui, the only daughter of North Korean Premier Kim Il-sung and his first wife Kim Jong-suk, and on ...

. Some scholars and defectors argue that the leaders of the OGD are the real leaders of North Korea, that Kim Jong-un is a puppet. North Korean defector

argues that

Hwang Pyong-so Hwang Pyong-so (born c. 1946 or 1949) is a North Korean general and politician who held the rank of Vice Marshal ( ko, 차수, ''Ch'asu'') in the Korean People's Army (KPA). He was a member of the Presidium of the Workers' Party of Korea and the ...

, the First Deputy Head of the OGD, through his post as director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army, was the real ruler of the country because he controlled the appointments and dismissals of military officers. However, none of the three following GPB Directors,

Choe Ryong-hae Choe Ryong-hae (born 15 January 1950) is a North Korean politician and military officer who currently serves as Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly and First Vice President of the State Affairs Commission, holding ...

Kim Jong-gak Kim Jong-gak (; born 20 July 1941)
, KCNA, 29 September 2010. is a

and then Kim Su-gil, have been seen as true leaders of North Korea. Robert Collins at the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea maintains that the OGD truly implements directives of the Supreme Leader, and Michael Madden of the North Korea Leadership Watch concludes the OGD is not powerful enough to introduce directives itself.

Leadership

High-ranking members of the OGD have significant power in the WPK. The director is often referred to as the second most powerful figure in the country, exemplified by the first director of the OGD being

, the founder of the North Korean state, and his successor, Kim Jong-il (the Party General Secretary from 1997 to 2011) directing the OGD from September 1973 until his death in 2011. Under Kim Jong-il's stewardship, the OGD was turned into a center of power within the WPK. Therefore, OGD first deputy directors and deputy directors are leading figures within the North Korean establishment. Their position affords them privileges and a degree of secrecy that makes them "a kind of elite priesthood in the DPRK." Officials working within the OGD are not under the jurisdiction of state law or party bylaws, after a memorandum issued by Kim Jong-il in the 1980s turned the OGD into a partially secret organization. Sanctions against deputy heads are kept confidential from the rest of the party. Although lower ranking members of the OGD don't have these privileges to the same extent, any member of the OGD is considered to be in a position of power and privilege. Due to the Kim family's lack of trust in the elite, members of the OGD, especially directors and deputy directors, are under constant and heavy surveillance and can be dismissed at any time for any reason by the Supreme Leader. He, as the head of every chain of leadership, has the final word on dismissals; for instance, in the 1990s Yun Sung-gwan, as deputy head, assumed control over the affairs of the OGD for two years, but was removed when Kim Jong-il believed he had amassed too much power. A similar case took place in 2003, when

was dismissed. Kim Kyong-hui and Kim Jong-un were speculated to have led the OGD following Kim Jong-il's death. Ri Man-gon, the last known OGD Director, was dismissed in February 2020 by the Politburo from his position as WPK Vice-Chairman, and likely as OGD Director as well. This was due to, according to the North Korean Central News Agency, an abuse of power and corruption scandal in the WPK. The current OGD Director is unknown. First deputy directors (as of 2020) * General Kim Kyong-ok: An OGD Deputy Director since 2007 and KWP Deputy Director since 1991, General Kim is deeply involved in the party and the Kim Regime. Kim Jong-un's security is his responsibility. Having no formal military training, General Kim was appointed general in 2010 in an effort to put civilian leadership at the head of the army. General Kim seems to be a trusted member of the Kim family, accompanying Kim Jong-un on many of his public inspections. In 2016 he was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury (OFAC). * General Ri Byong-chol: He has served for over four decades in the KPA, rising up the ranks to four star general in 2010. In addition to his position as OGD First Deputy Director, he is also a deputy director at the KWP Munitions Industry Department which is responsible for all weapons development in North Korea. Thus, he plays an active part in overseeing the research and production of weapons of mass destruction as well as making decisions regarding personnel in the military and weapons programs. General Ri has both military and senior Party experience, and is a trusted advisor to the Kim family, especially in times of crisis. In 2017 he was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury (OFAC). *Kim Jo-guk: Kim Jo-guk surfaced in 2019 as a OGD First Deputy Director. He is reportedly responsible for military affairs. Deputy directors (as of 2020) *

: Fired from the General Political Bureau in 2017 for corruption, Hwang was retained as OGD Vice-Director after three months of "Revolutionary Rehabilitation". Despite a lack of formal military training, he has significant influence over the military and frequently accompanies Kim Jong-un on military related visits. In 2017 Hwang was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury (OFAC). *

Jo Yong-won Jo Yong-won (, born 1957) is a North Korean politician and a deputy chief of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK)'s Secretariat of General Secretary Kim Jong-un. He was a vice director of the WPK Organization and Guidance Department (OGD). Jo was ...

: In 2014 Jo Yong-won began appearing on the political scene, attending senior level meetings, advising Kim Jong-un, and accompanying Kim Jong-un to inspections. He is believed to be Kim Jong-un's Personal Action Officer within the OGD. In 2017 he was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury (OFAC). *Min Byong-chol: He is head of the OGD Inspection Section, one of the most feared institutions for its power to investigate any individual and send reports to the Supreme Leader. In 2017 he was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury (OFAC). *

Kim Yo-jong Kim Yo-jong (; born 26 September 1987) is a North Korean politician and diplomat serving as the Deputy Department Director of the Publicity and Information Department of the Workers' Party of Korea, or WPK. She also served as an alternate membe ...

: As Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong is often thought to be a deputy director of the OGD, although there is no official confirmation. In 2017 she was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury (OFAC).

Directors

(1948–1952), head of the Organizing Committee * Pak Yong-bin (1952–1959), head of the Organization Department *

Kim Yong-ju Kim Yong-ju (; 1920 – 14 December 2021) was a North Korean politician and the younger brother of Kim Il-sung, who ruled North Korea from 1948 to 1994. Under his brother's rule, Kim Yong-ju held key posts including Politburo member in the Work ...

(1959–1974), head of the Organization and Guidance Department * Kim Jong-il (1974–1992), head of the Organization and Guidance Department * Yun Sung-gwan (1992–1993) * Kim Jong-il (1994–2011) *

(2017–2019) * Ri Man-gon (2019–2020) * Kim Jae-ryong (2020–present)

Past deputy directors

Ho Ka-i Alexei Ivanovich Hegai (russian: Алексей Иванович Хегай, ko, 허가이; 18 March 1908 – 2 July 1953), also known as Ho Ka-i, was a Soviet political operative in North Korea (DPRK) and leader of the Soviet Korean faction wit ...

* Ri Je-gang * Ri Yong-chol *Yom Ki-sun *Mun Song-sol *Ri Tong-hui * *Hong Song-ryong *Ko Hak-gyom *Mun Myong-on *Kim Su-yong *Pak Kyong-son *Ri Man-gon *Jo Yon-jun

Structure

The OGD is the largest department under the WPK

Political Bureau A politburo () or political bureau is the executive committee for communist party, communist parties. It is present in most former and existing communist states. Names The term "politburo" in English comes from the Russian language, Russian ''Pol ...

, with a personnel of 1,000 and an estimated 25 deputy directors employed in its central sections, and all report to the office of the general secretary. Sections under the OGD often overlap with other organizations within the party. This ensures security in the WPK and the OGD's power across the WPK. Due to the OGD's level of secrecy, it is difficult to track the various offices and sections, which are often referred to by slightly different names. Below is a list of known sections under the OGD.

Sections

*Party Headquarters Committee: guides all party elements. This entails training all party members (excepting the Supreme Leader) and overseeing surveillance of WPK Central Committee workers and their families. Members work in the various elements of the WPK Politburo, including the

Propaganda and Agitation Department The Propaganda and Agitation Department (PAD, ), officially translated as the Publicity and Information Department, is a department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) tasked with coordinating the creation and dissemina ...

, Party Registration, reports section, and the finance section among others. *Party Life Guidance Section: responsible for guiding party life of every North Korean citizen, working in the military, law enforcement, party elements, and local levels throughout the general population. Guidance from the PLGS is disseminated to every organization, ensuring it is able to monitor and control the general public's adherence to it whenever they are released. It was referred to as the eyes, ears and heart of the WPK by Kim Jong-il. Also under the PLG is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all foreign trade organizations. *Military Directorate: guides party and political life of all service personnel of the Korean People's Army through control of unit leaders. *Cadre Section: controls the selection, appointment, and dismissal of high-ranking officials as well as Supreme Leader's personal staff by gauging political loyalty. This means the Cadre Section manages and assess all activities and records of officials and their families. *Seventh Section: formerly the Administrative Department, the Seventh Section has authority over the entire judicial system. Through embedded officers, it oversees the operations of the Ministry of Peoples Security, as well as the Ministry of State Security The Seventh Section is also directly connected to North Korea's prison system, as the chain of command from individual prison camps up to the Supreme Leader must run through the Seventh Section. *Inspection Section: the most feared institution in Korea, the Inspection Section has the power to investigate any person in any organization. The OGD's ability to dismiss officials stems from the Inspection Section. While it works in conjunction with the PLG to investigate N. Koreans at every level, it has the final word on all investigations. *Supreme Leader's Personal Secretariat: responsible for the Supreme Leader's personal matters from protocol and calendar, to security, to education and family finances. *Party Member Registration Section: handles Party registration and occupation as well as party expulsions and international dispatch. *General Affairs Section: responsible for administrative work for the OGD *Reports Section: collects and manages all OGD reports to centralize them to the Supreme Leader *Petitions Section: evaluates petitions from all N. Korean citizens *Mass Party Directorate: deploys OGD personnel to local levels to ensure adherence to guidance *Section 65: specially selects and trains women for the "Joy Brigade" in horticulture, hairdressing, and masseuse training. *Three Revolutionary Teams Guidance Section: monitors open market activity in N. Korea *Ten Principles of Monolithic Ideology Section: guides implementation of the TPMI *Overseas Guidance Section: guides overseas organizations *8.9 Section: responsible for managing Mansudae Palace and Financial Management Department *Treaty Section: monitors and oversees strategy for engagement in international treaties *Office 80: monitors and oversees Kim Jong-un's bodyguard unit, Unit 974.

Human rights

According to the

United Nations Human Rights Council The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), CDH is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world. The Council has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis. ...

, the OGD plays a role in North Korea's notorious human rights violations. Monitoring North Korea's human rights policy, although not a formal designation, falls under the responsibility of the OGD, which administers and guides North Korea's policy of human rights denial. The OGD's control over Party life through Organization Departments at a local level allows it to record and punish any North Korean who does not adhere to policy. North Koreans can be removed from positions of power, receive reeducation, or in severe cases be denied access to the food and medical systems or even send citizens to prison or labor camps.

Sanctions

In 2017 United Nations (UN)

Security Council The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, an ...

sanctioned the OGD as well as key leadership: Min Byong-chol (OGD Deputy Director as of 2020), Jo Yon-jun (former OGD Deputy Director), Kim Kyong-ok (OGD First Director as of 2020), and Jo Yong-won (deputy director as of 2020). In 2016 the United States put North Korean human rights on its agenda, with the

US Treasury The Department of the Treasury (USDT) is the national treasury and finance department of the federal government of the United States, where it serves as an executive department. The department oversees the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and ...

placing sanctions on the OGD itself as well as Jo Yon-jun, Kim Kyong-ok and several other members of North Korean leadership who were added to the Office of Foreign Assets Control Specially Designated Nationals List (OFAC SDN) for human rights abuses. Later in 2017, Min Byong-chol, Jo Yong-won, and Kim Yo-jong were added to the OFAC SDN list for human rights abuses as well. South Korea sanctioned Hwang Pyong-so (OGD Deputy Director as of 2020) in 2016 and implemented the above-mentioned UN sanctions. In 2017, the United Kingdom put its own additional sanctions on the OGD and the same individuals.

Future viability

The stability of the Kim regime depends on the party obligations that are largely created and enforced by the OGD, according to the Korean Institute for National Unification. Thus, the OGD is integral to the regime's survival. As assessed by Robert Collins, former Chief of Strategy at R.O.K.- U.S. Combined Forces Command, there are external threats that could put strain on the OGD such as a manmade or natural disaster, or rebellion or war. Internal corruption, competition, and stress due to the OGD's wide responsibility also have potential to strain the OGD.

References

Footnotes

Bibliography

External links

Organizational chart
(p. 14) at Committee for Human Rights in North Korea
North Korea's Organization and Guidance Department
at Committee for Human Rights in North Korea {{Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea 1948 establishments in North Korea