"Kim Jong-un's right-hand man," "a proficient flatterer with ambitious goals," "a person who meticulously self-manages without any record of punishment."

Jo Yong-won, the closest aide to North Korea's Kim Jong-un, is known by those titles within the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). Jo holds multiple positions, including Member of Standing Committee of the WPK General Political Bureau (GPB), Organizational Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Member of the Central Military Commission of WPK, and Member of the State Affairs Commission (SAC). He is Kim Jong-un's right-hand man and confidant, and is a key figure in North Korea's power structure, following in the footsteps of Kim Jong-un and Kim Yo-jong.

Jo, the current Organizational Secretary of the WPK, has taken over a position previously held by Kim Jong-il in the 1980s. At that time, Kim Jong-il co-governed North Korea with Kim Il-sung while serving as the Organizational Secretary. The Organization and Guidance Department (OGD) of the WPK, which is one department within the secretariat of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, wields considerable power due to its size, function, and authority.

The OGD is often referred to as the "Party within the Party," and it holds power over personnel, policies, and censorship within the WPK. Currently, Jo holds both the position of Organizational Secretary and Director of the OGD, which consists of four First Deputy Directors, 10 deputy directors, and approximately 300 members. Hwang Jang-yop, a former WPK secretary who defected to South Korea in 1997, once stated that "the power succession was practically completed when Kim Jong-il took the position of party organizational secretary in February 1974." Jo Yong-won, who inherited this position from Kim Jong-un, is a key figure among North Korean leadership.

Jo, born in October 1957, is believed to have come from Hwanghae Province, despite various claims about his birthplace, including Jagang Province and Gangwon Province. He attended Kim Il-sung University, where he studied physics and developed a reputation for being highly intelligent, capable, and ambitious. According to a high-ranking North Korean defector A, "Jo may appear calm and quiet, but he has a stronger desire for power than anyone else, and from a young age, he tried to use his friends' lovers as tools for his own success." There are also rumors that during his university days, he betrayed his lover for career success and intentionally approached the daughter of a high-ranking official but failed to marry her.

Kim Jong-un and Jo Yong-won (Source : KNCA)

In the political landscape of North Korea, Jo is regarded as a fortunate figure. In the 1980s, when Jo was about to graduate from university, Kim Jong-il instructed the OGD to prioritize graduates who are smart, have a keen sense of logic, and specialize in science and engineering. Jo was selected as one of the top candidates for the OGD even before his graduation, and he started walking on the tightrope of party politics. Jo's career path took a significant turn when he met Kim Jong-un while working for the Gangwon Provincial Party. As a child, Kim Jong-un spent his childhood at a villa in Gangwon Province, and Jo had a working relationship with the Gangwon Provincial Party at the time, which allowed him to build a close relationship with Kim Jong-un. In 2009, Jo was promoted to the position of Deputy Director of the OGD.

In April 2012, during his first year in power, Kim Jong-un awarded Jo with the highest medal in North Korea, the "Order of Kim Il-sung," which shows how much trust Kim has in him. Following this, Jo went through a series of events, including the purge of Chief of Staff Ri Yong-ho in July 2012, the execution of Jang Song-thaek (Kim Jong-un's uncle) in December 2013, and the execution of Hyon Yong-chol (the Minister of National Defense) in March 2015, which helped him gain more experience and a good reputation. In May 2014, when hundreds of people died due to the collapse of a newly constructed 23-story apartment building in Pyongyang, North Korean authorities made an unprecedented public apology, and there is talk that it was Jo Yong-won's idea.

Jo has been a close aide of Kim Jong-un since 2015, but his public debut with the leader of North Korea was in 2014. According to some reports, Jo even visited a senior's home to deliver a special mission on behalf of Kim. He is also known for taking responsibility when things go wrong, even scolding one of Kim's aides. In August 2021, while observing the typhoon-affected areas, Jo was seen in a conversation with Kim, with his hands in his pockets. It is believed that Jo plays a key role in receiving and reporting Kim's instructions and reports in the OGD or the Secretariat.

Jo accompanied Kim to important events such as the 2018 Pyongyang Inter-Korean Summit, the 2018 DPRK-USA Singapore Summits, and the 2019 DPRK-USA Hanoi Summit, showcasing his role as a key advisor to Kim. However, his influence also drew the attention of the United States Department of State, which imposed individual sanctions on him for his alleged involvement in human rights abuses in North Korea.

In January 2021, during the 8th Party Congress military parade, Jo appeared as one of members in the "Three in Leather Coats." In the 2022 public appearance of Kim's horse riding, he was seen sitting right beside him, solidifying his position as a key aide. On June 7th, 2022, Jo presided over a meeting of the Political Bureau in place of Kim, using the power of the Political Bureau's presider as written in the party regulations. The next day, at the enlarged meeting of the 8th Central Committee, he took over as the Director of the OGD from Kim Jae-ryong, further consolidating his powerful authority.

According to a high-level source in North Korea, Jo has been attending "the secretive party hosted by il-ho(Kim jong-un)", since a relatively young age, which is only open to the highest-ranking aides of Kim. Jo's self-discipline and natural talent for flattery are also highly regarded, as he has never been punished even once. His strongest point is his tendency to not go overboard in anything. Unlike other officials who strive to stay close to Kim for reporting and communication, Jo simply observes from a distance. A high-level North Korean defector said that Jo's calm personality and ability to flatter helped him rise to power.

Jo goes to great lengths to maintain his political power, putting in extra effort to cultivate a relationship with Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong. Jo has reportedly earned a high level of trust from Kim Yo-jong, to the point where he was even her guarantor when she joined the party. It is also rumored that Jo acts as a protector to impress Kim Yo-jong. However, it is important to note that despite this, Jo wields more power and decision-making authority than Kim Yo-jong.

While Jo is considered skillful in using tactics, there are criticisms about his excessive use of them. In North Korea, when someone is referred to as a "master of tactics", it often carries a negative connotation of insincerity and opportunism. Specifically, due to the anti-marketization policy and the policy of reverting to a planned economy led by Jo, there is a growing sense of exhaustion among not only North Korean citizens but also officials. Jo continued push for "reactionary ideology and culture" and other unjust laws is causing frustration and resentment within North Korea. Despite his adeptness in using tactics, Jo is facing criticism from many people.

Despite his impeccable self-management skills, Jo appears to overlook corruption within his own family. It is rumored that his younger sister, residing in Gangwon Province, suddenly rose to success by leveraging her brother's power and influence, owning a foreign-made car and living in a luxurious apartment. Furthermore, Jo Yong-won's son reportedly has a drinking problem and causes trouble but is believed to have avoided punishment with the support of his father. Jo Yong-won, who rose to the top ruling class through opportunism rather than his abilities, is currently displaying his political experience, high-profile status, and great confidence. There is a possibility that his thirst for power, combined with external expectations, may lead to strong opposition.