North Korea's Version of 'Hidden Power' Jo Yong-won... Rapid Rise to 5th in Power Hierarchy

Kim Jong-un 131 Times in the Last 5 Years, Most Frequent Attendant
Taeyongho "The Real Power Actually Controlling North Korea"

Chosun Central TV reported on the 9th that the 4th day meeting of the 8th Party Congress of North Korea was held at the Pyongyang April 25th Cultural Hall on the 8th. During the 4th day meeting, a discussion on the report summarizing the work of the Party Central Committee took place. The photo shows Jo Yong-won, First Deputy Director of the Organization and Guidance Department, speaking during the discussion.

Jo Yong-won, the first deputy head of the Organization and Guidance Department who shadowed North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, has drawn attention by securing a key position through the 8th Workers' Party Congress and rising to fifth in the power hierarchy.

According to North Korea's state media Korean Central News Agency on the 11th, Jo Yong-won was elected as a member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee. The Standing Committee consists of Chairman Kim and the existing five members: Choe Ryong-hae, Ri Pyong-chol, and Kim Tok-hun.

Jo Yong-won was also appointed as a secretary of the Party Central Committee and a member of the Party Central Military Commission, indicating that he took on the role of organization secretary.

By taking on various key party positions, he rapidly rose to fifth in the power hierarchy.

Jo Yong-won is regarded as a 'behind-the-scenes power' of the Kim family.

In North Korea, whether one accompanies Chairman Kim at official events, appears in photos together, or stands close by is considered an indicator of power.

According to the 'Kim Jong-un Chairman Trend Analysis' data from the Ministry of Unification's North Korea Information Portal as of the 11th, Jo Yong-won is the person who has accompanied Chairman Kim the most over the past five years.

He accompanied him 34 times in 2017, 51 times in 2018, 34 times in 2019, and 12 times in 2020, totaling 131 times.

The second highest in number of accompanying appearances is Choe Ryong-hae, the second in power hierarchy and chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, who accompanied him 86 times during the same period.

In a press conference held in Seoul in January 2017, Tae Yong-ho, a member of the People Power Party, described Jo Yong-won as "the real power controlling North Korea."

Chosun Central TV reported on the 9th that the 4th day meeting of North Korea's 8th Party Congress was held at the Pyongyang 4.25 Culture Hall on the 8th. North Korea has repeatedly emphasized through state media that this Party Congress is a "working congress." In fact, the business summary report lasted three days, one day longer than the 7th Party Congress, and the 4th day was devoted to discussions. On the presidium, party officials were seen approaching Chairman Kim Jong Un to report or receive instructions. The photo shows Jo Yong Won, First Deputy Director of the Organization and Guidance Department, reporting to Chairman Kim Jong Un while kneeling. Deputy Director Jo is considered a close aide to Chairman Kim Jong Un. Photo by Jo Yong Won

Jo Yong-won started as a junior cadre in the Organization and Guidance Department, which controls the organizational life of cadres, party members, and residents, and was promoted to deputy head in 2014.

He received the 'Kim Il-sung Order' in April 2012, and after his promotion, he appeared without fail during Chairman Kim's field inspections, leading to evaluations that his party ranking rose rapidly.

He spent overwhelmingly more time face-to-face and talking with Chairman Kim, earning him the nickname 'door handle power.'

Since 2018, Jo Yong-won has accompanied Chairman Kim as an aide during the North Korea?United States summits, inter-Korean summits, and all other schedules, closely monitoring his every move.

Whenever Chairman Kim goes on field inspections, Jo Yong-won follows him like a shadow, holding a small notebook and pen, not only recording but also preparing and briefing the necessary reports for the inspections.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.