He graduated from Mangyongdae Revolutionary School and from Kim Il Sung University and went to study in the Soviet Union in Moscow State University.

He became an instructor in the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in 1955.

Candidate member of the political politburo in 1973, Vice Premier in 1977, the Sixth Party Congress in 1980 he was elected a member of the Politburo.

1991 Chairman of the People's president and secretary hambuk faction, the People's Committee of the Party Central Committee, member of the Political Bureau of the Korean Workers' Party, the Supreme People's Assembly to the delegates in charge of such positions.

He was awarded Order of Kim Il Sung in 1982.