Kim Rak-hui

Kim Rak-hui (, 11 November 1933 – February 2013) was a North Korean politician. Kim worked in the agricultural and cooperatives section for most of her working life. During the Korean War, her efforts in rationing caught the attention of Kim Il Sung. A delegate to the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) many times, Kim Rak-hui rose through the ranks of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), becoming a full member of its Central Committee in 1970. She was appointed to the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea in 2010 and became one of six Vice Premiers of North Korea that year. She ran a committee to combat epizootic diseases.

In 2012, her career started to decline as she was stripped of her Politburo membership and Vice-Premiership. Initially, it was speculated that she was caught up in personnel changes to consolidate the rule of Kim Jong Un. After it was announced that Kim Rak-hui had died in February 2013, the decline of her career was attributed to ill-health instead. Through her career, Kim was awarded Hero of Labor, Order of Kim Il Sung, Order of Kim Jong Il, and Order of the National Flag (first class).

Early life Kim Rak-hui was born in Kaechon, South Pyongan Province on 11 November 1933. Before her career, she graduated from the University of National Economics.

Career Most of Kim's career was spent in agricultural cooperatives and rural management committees. During the Korean War, she supervised food rationing and distribution. Her efforts caught the attention of the country's leader, Kim Il Sung. That year she was made vice director of the WPK Agriculture Department, but continued to be an advisor to the South Pyongan committee. In June 2005 she became Chief Secretary of the South Hwanghae Provincial WPK Committee.

After Kim Il Sung died in 1994, Kim Rak-hui was on his funeral committee. She was on a similar committee of O Jin-u the following year. By the course of the year, the 5th session of the 12th SPA in April removed her from the office of Vice Premier, and the 4th Conference of the Workers' Party of Korea removed her from the Politburo. It was speculated that the decline of her career was due to efforts to consolidate the rule of Kim Jong Un by personnel changes. For instance, North Korea expert Alexandre Mansourov counted her among "holdovers who failed to secure Kim's trust or demonstrate their value". After North Korean media reported on 18 February 2013 that Kim Rak-hui had died, her demotions were attributed to health issues instead. Kim Jong Un sent a floral basket to her funeral. During her life, she had been awarded, in addition to Labor of Hero, the following: Order of Kim Il Sung, Order of Kim Jong Il, and Order of the National Flag (first class).