Kim Tu-bong

Kim Tu-bong
김두봉
Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of North Korea
In office February 1946 – 30 June 1949
Preceded by	Position created
Succeeded by	Kim Il-sung
Chairmen of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly
In office 17 December 1945 – 28 August 1946
Preceded by	Position created
Succeeded by	Choe Yong-gon
Personal details
Born	(1889-02-02)2 February 1889 Gyounghee Provenance, Korea
Died	1958 (age 58–59)
Nationality	Korean
Political party	Workers' Party of North Korea (1946-1949) Workers' Party of Korea (1949-1958)
Military service
Allegiance	DPR Korea
Service/branch	Korean People's Army

Kim Tu-bong (February 2, 1889 – 1958 or later) was the 1st Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of North Korea from 1946 to 1948. 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 regime.

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 Standing Committee 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.

Born on February 2, 1889, in South Korea's South Gyounghee Provenance, near modern-day Pusan, he spent his early years being homeschooled during the time of imperial rule. He would move to Seoul at the age of 20 (1908) to attend both Geho School and Baechae School and in that same year graduate from Bogo High School. While he was in Seoul he would join the Korea Youth organization in 1913 and the following year (1914) leave Baechae School. He was also an editor for the So nyoun magazine.