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DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Choe Go In Min Hoe Ui (Supreme People's Assembly)

Modules:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Choe Go In Min Hoe Ui / Supreme People's Assembly
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Structure of parliament Unicameral
Affiliation to the IPU Yes
Affiliation date(s) 1973 -
LEADERSHIP
President Choe Thae Bok (M) 
Notes Re-elected on 9 Apr. 2009 and on 9 Apr. 2014.
Secretary General Hong Son Ok (F) 
Notes Elected on 9 Apr. 2014.
COMPOSITION
Members (statutory / current number) 687 / 687
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN


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Women (current number) 112 (16.30%)
Mode of designation directly elected 687
Term 5 years
Last renewal dates 9 March 2014
(View details)
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address Presidium
Supreme People´s Assembly
Mansoudong Central District
PYONGYANG
(Export mailing lists)
Phone (850 2) 18 111
18 222
18 333
Fax (850 2) 381 4410
381 4427
E-mail
Website

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Parliament name (generic / translated) Choe Go In Min Hoe Ui / Supreme People's Assembly
Structure of parliament Unicameral
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Electoral law 9 March 2006
Loi N° 06/006
Mode of designation directly elected 687
Constituencies 687 single-member constituencies.
Voting system Majority: Two-round System (TRS)
The candidate who has received the majority of all votes cast in a constituency is declared elected.
The election is valid only when more than 1/2 of the voters in a given constituency take part in it.
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections.
Voting is not compulsory.
Voter requirements - age: 17 years
- DPRK citizenship
- disqualifications: insanity, persons disfranchised by court decision
CANDIDATES
Eligibility Qualified electors
- age: 17 years
- DPRK citizenship
Incompatibilities (data unavailable)
Candidacy requirements - nomination by electors, political parties or social organisations (jointly or individually)
- each candidate must be nominated at a meeting of at least 100 electors; more than 1/2 of these must support his/her candidacy.

LAST ELECTIONS

Parliament name (generic / translated) Choe Go In Min Hoe Ui / Supreme People's Assembly
Structure of parliament Unicameral
BACKGROUND
Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 9 March 2014
Timing and scope of renewal The March 2014 elections were the first to be held under the country's new leader, Mr. Kim Jong Un. He had succeeded his father, Kim Jong-il, who passed away in December 2011. The new leader himself was seeking a parliamentary seat, in addition to his posts as First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, First Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Supreme Leader of the Workers' Party of Korea. According to the Central Electoral Committee, 99.97 per cent of registered voters participated in the elections.

Around 55 per cent of serving parliamentarians were reportedly renewed in 2014. High-ranking officials re-elected to the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) included its Chairman Mr. Choe Thae Bok and Mr. Kim Yong-nam, Chairman of the SPA Presidium. The Ambassador to China Ji Jae Ryong joined the SPA for the first time along with Mr. Kim Jong Un.

In April, the SPA re-elected Mr. Choe Thae Bok as Chairman. It also elected Mr. Pak Pong Ju as Premier of the Cabinet (head of government) and re-confirmed Mr. Kim Jong Un as First Chairman of the National Defence Commission.
Date of previous elections: 8 March 2009

Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: N/A

Timing of election: Upon normal expiry

Expected date of next elections: March 2019

Number of seats at stake: 687 (full renewal)

Number of candidates: 687 (575 men, 112 women)

Percentage of women candidates: 16.3%

Number of parties contesting the election: Not available

Number of parties winning seats: Not available

Alternation of power: No

Number of parties in government: 1

Names of parties in government: Workers' Party of Korea

Date of the first session of the new parliament: 9 April 2014

Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Choe Thae Bok (Workers' Party of Korea)
STATISTICS
Voter turnout
Round no 19 March 2014
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes



Notes
Distribution of votes
Round no 1
Political group Candidates Votes % of votes
Workers' Party of Korea
Korean Social Democratic Party
Chondoist Chongu Party
Independents
Distribution of seats
Round no 1
Political Group Total of seats Number of women
Workers' Party of Korea 607 90
Korean Social Democratic Party 50 12
Chondoist Chongu Party 22 9
Independents 8 1
Distribution of seats according to sex
Men

Women

Percent of women
575

112

16.30%
Distribution of seats according to age
Distribution of seats according to profession
Comments
Note:
The independents comprise five members representing the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) and three members representing religious associations.

Source: Permanent Mission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva (30.05.2014, 03.07.2014)

PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Choe Go In Min Hoe Ui / Supreme People's Assembly
Structure of parliament Unicameral
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title Speaker of the Supreme People's Assembly
Term - duration: 5 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, prosecution for crime, vote of no confidence, transfer to another post, lack of capability,

Appointment - elected by all the Members of the Assembly
- election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected Assembly
Eligibility - any Deputy may be candidate
Voting system - formal vote by public ballot (by a show of hands)
- simple majority is required
- several rounds may be held if the required majority is not obtained

Procedures / results - a Deputy chosen by the Presidium presides over the Assembly during the voting
- all Deputies supervise the voting
- the Deputy chosen by the Presidium announces the results without any delay
- the results can be challenged
STATUS
Status - represents the Assembly with the public authorities
- represents the Assembly in international bodies
- is ex officio Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly
- in the absence of the Presidentr, the Vice-President can assume his/her role and functions

Board
Material facilities NA (no information received)
FUNCTIONS
Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study
- examines the admissibility of request for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting up of such committees
- the Standing Committee establishes and modifies the agenda



Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- may take disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities- checks the quorum
- authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly
Special powers - is responsible for establishing the Assembly's budget
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- appoints the Clerk
- organizes the services of Parliament
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
Speaking and voting rights, other functions - provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- takes part in voting in his/her capacity of Deputy
- proposes bills or amendments
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure

This page was last updated on 30 August 2018
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