Party Foundation Day in 2024

When is Party Foundation Day?

Party Foundation Day is a national holiday in North Korea observed on October 10th each year.

This public holiday commemorates the foundation of the Workers' Party in 1945.

History of Party Foundation Day

The national holidays observed in North Korea honour a combination of political events, military achievements and the leaders Kim il-Sung and Kim Jung Il. In a way, that rather neatly sums up the history of North Korea since its formation - forging its own political path under a cult of leadership and beefing up its ability to defend itself from threats.

The Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) was founded on October 10th 1945. Though the history of the formative years differs depending on whether the source of information is from inside or outside North Korea, it undoubtedly became a key vehicle for the consolidation of power and control of the country by Kim Il Sung and his dynasty.

Ruling the WPK allowed Kim Il Sung to found the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on September 1948 and lead the country into the Korean War in 1950.

Party Foundation Day is a major national holiday in North Korea, ranking only behind Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il's birthdays in terms of importance. 

North Korea marks the anniversary of the founding of its ruling Workers' Party, with crowds laying flowers and bowing in front of statues and portraits of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, the grandfather and father of the present leader. As with other holidays, more pomp and larger celebrations take place on the five year anniversaries - On October 10th 2015, there was a giant parade with military hardware in Pyongyang's Kim Il-sung Square to mark the Workers' Party's 70th anniversary.