 The emblem of the Socialist Women's Union of Korea shows the symbol of the Workers' Party of Korea above Mount Paekdu and Kimilsungia flowers. | |
 Flag | |
| Predecessor | North Korea Women's League |
|---|---|
| Formation | 18 November 1945 |
| Type | Mass organization |
| Purpose | Women's rights |
| Headquarters | Chungsŏng-dong, Central District, Pyongyang[1] |
Region | North Korea |
Membership (2018 est.) | 200,000–250,000 |
Chairperson | Jang Chun-sil |
Vice chairpersons | |
Vice director | Pak Chang-suk |
Main organ | Korean Woman |
Parent organization | Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea |
| Socialist Women's Union of Korea | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 조선사회주의녀성동맹 |
|---|---|
| Hancha | 朝鮮社會主義女性同盟 |
| Revised Romanization | Joseon Sahoejuui Nyeoseong Dongmaeng |
| McCune–Reischauer | Chosŏn Sahoejuŭi Nyŏsŏng Tongmaeng |
| Formerly Korean Democratic Women's Union | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 조선민주녀성동맹 |
| Hancha | 朝鮮民主女性同盟 |
| Revised Romanization | Joseon Minju Nyeoseong Dongmaeng |
| McCune–Reischauer | Chosŏn Minju Nyŏsŏng Tongmaeng |
The Socialist Women's Union of Korea (Korean: 조선사회주의녀성동맹; formerly the Korean Democratic Women's Union, KDWU;[a] 조선민주녀성동맹) is a mass organization for women in North Korea. Founded in 1945 as the North Korea Democratic Women's League, it is the oldest and one of the most important mass organizations in the country. The Union has committees on every level of administrative divisions of North Korea, from ri (village) all the way up to provinces.
Membership has been restricted to those women who are not members of any other mass organization. As a result, Union members are effectively composed of women who do not work outside of home. The Union nominally represents these women, but in reality it is used for the implementation of government policies. The Union has had an important role in achieving gender equality and increasing political participation of women in North Korea. In its early days after its foundation in 1945, the Union had well more than a million members, compared to its current membership of about 200,000 to 250,000. Its influence has been reduced since the economic reforms of the early 2000s.
The post of the chairperson is usually conferred to the most powerful woman in North Korea.[2] Previous chairpersons include Kim Sung-ae, the wife of the country's former leader Kim Il Sung. The current chair is Jang Chun-sil.
The Union runs a publishing house that publishes a monthly magazine called Korean Woman.
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