Kang Ryang-uk

Kang Ryang -uk (* December 7, 1904; † 9 January 1983) was a North Korean clergyman and politician.

Kang Ryang -uk was a maternal uncle of the North Korean dictator Kim Il-sung. He first worked as a teacher and taught at times also his nephew. In the 1940s, he studied theology at the University of Pyongyang and so was a Protestant pastor.

After Kim Il-sung's return from the Soviet Union Kang was one of the head of state's closest advisors. In 1946 he became chairman of the Christian League (later Christian Federation ), a closely linked with the Communist Party religious organization. After the founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) all Protestant pastors in the country had to join Kang's organization.

Activists who had previously committed a failed assassination attempt on Kim Il-sung, murdered in the 1940s Kang's son and his mother. Kang was later vice chairman of the Democratic Party. He was also Deputy Prime Minister and 12 December 1972 until November 2, 1986 Deputy President of the Supreme People's Assembly.

After Kang's death, his son Kang Yong Sop took over the post of chairman of the Christian Federation of him.