He served as Minister of Social Security and from June 2022 to December as Chief of the General Staff.

Following the death of Kim Jong Il on December 17, 2011, was included as a member of the funeral commission.

He was re-elected as a member of the Central Committee 7th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea in May 2016.

[2] He was re-elected as a deputy in the 14th election of the Supreme People's Assembly held in March 2019 and was present at the military parade commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea held on October 10, 2020, marching with the 5th Corps column as a general.

[3][4] On June 11, 2022, at the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea he was promoted to Chief of the General Staff of the People's Army, replacing Rim Kwang-il.