Hyon Mu-gwang

Hyon Mu-gwang was a North Korean politician, vice premier of the State Administration of Government, member of the Central People's Committee of North Korea and chairman of the National Audit Committee.

Biography

Hyon Mu-gwang was born in Hongyuan County, south-central South Hamgyong Province. In his early years, he worked as a worker in a factory in Seoul. During the Japanese occupation, he was forced to requisition to work in a steel plant in Chongjin City. In 1937, he joined the National Liberation League and engaged in the communist movement. He was subsequently arrested by the Japanese colonial government and sentenced to prison. In 1945, Japan surrendered and World War II ended,
In 1956, Hyon returned, and immediately became the vice chairman of Xianjing South Road. In the same year, he was elected as acting member of the Supreme People's Assembly. He was re-elected to this position 7 times. In 1958, he was promoted to chairman of South Hamgyong Province. In 1960, he was appointed Minister of Heavy Industry of the Party Central Committee. In 1962, he was relocated to the chairman of North Hamgyong Province. The following year, he was promoted to the chairman of the Machinery Industry Committee. In 1970, he was elected as a member of the Central People's Committee, an alternate member of the Political Committee and a secretary of the Secretariat.
In 1984, Hyon was promoted to Vice Premier of North Korea. Two years later, he was appointed chairman of the National Audit Committee. In recognition of his contribution to rebuilding North Korea's heavy industry and developing military industry, the Pyongyang government awarded him the Order of Kim Il Sung and the title of "Hero of the Republic". He has also visited the Soviet Union, China and East Germany many times on behalf of North Korea. He died in March 1992. The Pyongyang government held a state funeral for him and was buried in Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery.