Eternal President of the Republic

Eternal President of the Republic 공화국의 영원한 주석
Incumbent Kim Il-sung since 5 September 1998
Residence	Kumsusan Palace of the Sun
Seat	Pyongyang, DPRK
Constituting instrument	Constitution of North Korea
Formation	28 December 1972 (formation of President of North Korea) 5 September 1998 (constitutional amendment)

28 December 1972 (formation of President of North Korea)

The official designation of a Eternal President of the Republic (공화국의 영원한 주석, literally in English "Eternal Chairman of the Republic") was established by a line in the preface to the Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as amended on September 5, 1998, and in subsequent revisions.

It reads (in the original version):

Under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Korean people will hold the great leader Comrade Kim Il-sung in high esteem as the eternal President of the Republic...

According to Ashley J. Tellis and Michael Wills, this amendment to the preamble is an indication of the unique North Korean characteristic of being a theocratic state based on a cult of personality revering Kim Il-sung. In addition, North Korea adopted a Juche calendar dating from 1912, the year of Kim Il-sung's birth.

The President of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established in the Constitution of North Korea in 1972. Until then, Kim Il-sung, the de facto ruler of North Korea, held the posts of Premier and General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea.

In 1972 the Presidency was established, and Kim Il-sung was elected to the position by the Supreme People's Assembly, the North Korean legislature, on 28 December 1972. Kim held the Office of President until 1994 when he died, and the position was left vacant when he died.