He is from Hwangsan-ri, Puksinhyon-myon, Nyongbyon County, North Pyongan Province, the son of Hwajonmin.
From 1909 to 1912, he attended elementary school in his hometown, where he studied natural science from 1912 to 1915.
From 1915 to 1920, he worked on his father's farm, and in 1919 joined the youth organization to prepare for the March 1st Movement.
From February 1947, he served as the general secretary of the People's Committee of North Korea and was one of its members.
[1] Following the formal declaration on the establishment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in September 1948, he became the Minister of Communications in the North Korean Cabinet led by Premier Kim Il Sung.