Kim Tu-bong

Workers' Party of North Korea Central Committee

16 February 1889 Pusan, Joseon

between March 1958 and 1960 (aged 69–71) Democratic People's Republic of Korea

30 March 1948 – 30 June 1949

Korean linguist and politician (1886–1958) In this Korean name, the family name is Kim. Kim Tu-bong김두봉 Kim Tu-bong in 1955.Chairman of the Workers' Party of North Korea Central Committee2nd termIn office 30 March 1948 – 30 June 1949Succeeded by Kim Il-sung1st termIn office 28 August 1946 – 30 March 1948Preceded by Post establishedSucceeded by Kim Il-sungChairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly1st termIn office 9 September 1948 – 20 September 1957Preceded by Post establishedSucceeded by Choe Yong-gon Personal detailsBorn(1889-02-16 ) 16 February 1889 Pusan, JoseonDiedbetween March 1958 and 1960 (aged 69–71) Democratic People's Republic of KoreaNationalityNorth KoreanPolitical partyWorkers' Party of Korea (1949–1958)Other political affiliationsWorkers' Party of North Korea (1946–1949)Korean nameChosŏn'gŭl김두봉 Hancha金枓奉 Revised RomanizationGim DubongMcCune–ReischauerKim TubongPen nameChosŏn'gŭl백연 Hancha白淵 Revised RomanizationBaekyeonMcCune–ReischauerPaegyŏn Kim Tu-bong (February 16, 1889 – March 1958 or later) was the first Chairman of the Workers' Party of North Korea from 1946 to 1949. He was known in Korean history as a linguist, scholar and politician. His most famous work was under Ju Sigyeong; later, after participating in the March 1st Movement, he with other Korean leaders of the time established a provisional government-in-exile in China, and because of his communist beliefs he played an important role in the early North Korean communist government. He and other members of the Yan'an faction formed the New People's Party when they returned from exile. After the New People's Party merged into the Workers Party of North Korea (WPNK) in 1946 at the 1st WPNK Congress, he became WPNK Chairman. He was the first head of state (Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly) of North Korea from 1948 to 1957. He is most remembered in South Korea for his efforts in establishing the Korean linguistic field and especially that of Hangul. Much of his work both political and linguistically was done while living in China with the exiled government of Korea. He is also known by his pen name Baekyeon. He was purged by Kim Il-sung in 1957.