Hyon Chol-hae

Hyon Chol-hae (Korean: 현철해/玄哲海[1];August 13, 1934 – May 19, 2022) was a North Korean military officer.

Marshal Hyon Chol-hae
Vice director of the General Political Department
In office 1986–1995
Supreme Leader	Kim Jong-il
Personal details
Born	(1934-08-13)August 13, 1934 Yanji, Jilin, Manchukuo
Died	May 19, 2022(2022-05-19) (aged 87) Pyongyang, North Korea
Political party	Workers' Party of Korea
Military service
Allegiance	North Korea
Rank	Marshal of the Korean People's Army

He was born in Yanji, Jilin province in Manchukuo.[2]

During the Korean War, Hyon served as Kim Il-sung's bodyguard, a role which gave him "a place in North Korea's revolutionary history". He was director of the General Logistics Department of the Korean People's Army from 1986 to 1995, when he was appointed deputy director of the General Political Department, becoming one of the most senior members of the North Korean military and political leadership. He was described as being in "close proximity" to Kim Jong-il, and as reporting directly to him. It had been suggested that, following the death of Kim Jong-il, he may have taken part in a military council leadership of the country.[3] He was transferred to director of the Standing Bureau of the National Defence Commission. He was a member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea since 1991 until his death.

In April 2012, he received important promotions as Vice Marshal, member of the Workers' Party of Korea's Politburo and Central Military Commission, first vice-minister of the People's Armed Forces and director of the army's General Logistics Department.

He was replaced as first vice-minister of defence by his own predecessor as logistics director Jon Chang-bok in May 2013.

On April 15, 2016, Hyon Chol-hae became the fifth person[4] to be promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Korean People's Army,[5] being one of the first two promotions of active duty officers after 21 years.