First Democratic Election in History of Korea

The first democratic election in the history of Korea was held on November 3, Juche 35 (1946).

The Korean people became the true masters of the country after Korea’s liberation on August 15, 1945, but they had never gone to the polls nor heard of election.

They could not complain of their miserable fate of being forced to be colonial slaves under the military occupation of the Japanese imperialists (1905-1945) nor express their opinions at will for scores of years. So, it was natural for all the people across the country were transported with great excitement and joy at the news that they were allowed to personally elect deputies to the people’s committees, their power organs.

A newspaper in those days carried the following article on the delight of the Korean people in holding the first democratic election: The main topic of all family members, regardless of ages and sex, is the election to be held tomorrow and our candidate General Kim Il Sung. Which era has ever given such a noble familial topic to the members of a family or given them a chance to talk about politics? How happy and glorious the residents in this district are who will vote for General Kim Il Sung, the greatest patriot and leader, as their candidate they choose according to their wishes! It is no wonder why they talk the night away.

On the day of the first historic election, Kim Il Sung cast a ballot for an ordinary worker candidate. All the Korean people voted for their candidates.

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That day, 99.6 percent of the voters took part in the election to the deputies of provincial, city and county people’s committees. The democratic election based on the principle of universal, equal, and direct suffrage by secret ballot came to a successful end.

Since then, the Korean people have enjoyed the political freedom and rights as the masters of the country to their heart’s content. All citizens of the DPRK who have reached the age of 17 take part in the State and social life with the right to elect and to be elected, regardless of sex, occupation, residence and education.

In every election, they turn out as one in the work to make the people’s power rock-solid with high political enthusiasm.

The election of deputies to the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK was held in March this year and 99.99 percent of all the electors registered on the voter rolls across the country, except for those abroad or working in the oceans took part in the voting and 100 percent of them cast their ballots for the candidates for the deputies. 687 candidates from all walks of life were elected the deputies to the SPA.

A president of a Norwegian company said as follows after witnessing the scene of elections in the DPRK: I am deeply impressed at the fact that such ordinary people as workers, farmers and intellectuals can be elected deputies to discuss the state affairs. The election system of the DPRK is really superior as it ensures that its people express their opinions at their will.

Choe Song Jun