Our local DOT drug and alcohol testing centers are located in York Center IL and the surrounding areas providing DOT drug testing, DOT alcohol testing and DOT physicals for all DOT modes regulated by Part 40. Same day service is available at our York Center IL DOT drug testing facilities and most of our DOT drug testing locations are within minutes of your home or office.
What type of DOT Testing is required?
Coastal Drug Testing provides DOT pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion and return to duty testing at our York Center IL DOT drug testing centers.
If you hold a CDL license, a large, medium or a small trucking company, Coastal Drug Testing has a complete DOT compliance package which includes all the requirements to comply with CFR 49 part 40.
All Coastal Drug Testing DOT drug testing centers utilize SAMHSA Certified laboratories and a licensed Medical Review Officer as required by DOT part 40 regulations.
The U.S Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that all DOT regulated "safety sensitive" employees have a negative DOT pre-employment drug test result on file and be actively enrolled in a DOT approved random drug and alcohol random testing pool (consortium).
In addition, if a DOT regulated company has more than one "safety sensitive" employee, the employer must also have a written DOT drug and alcohol policy along with an on-site supervisor that must have completed a reasonable suspicion supervisor training program.
On the road and need a DOT Drug or Alcohol test? No Worries!
To be compliant with DOT regulations, a company's DOT drug and alcohol testing program must have the following components:
- Employee Drug Testing
- Written Drug and Alcohol Policy
- Supervisor Training
- Substance Abuse Referral
- Employee Education
- Random Selection Program
- Post Accident Testing
- Designated Employer Representative
- Federal Chain of Custody Forms
- Part 40 Regulations on File
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has specific drug and alcohol testing requirements for the all transportation modes all DOT agencies.
Our modes included are:
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
- United States Coast Guard (USCG)
- Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
- Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
Are You Enrolled in a DOT Consortium?
Individuals who are employed in a position designated as "safety sensitive" must be actively enrolled in a random drug and alcohol testing program. Oftentimes, covered employees will join a group of other DOT regulated employees in a random testing program and this is referred to as a DOT Consortium. Generally, an employer who has less than fifty employees or single operators will join the consortium which will comply with the random drug and alcohol testing requirements of 49 CFR Part 40. Employers that have over 50 employees who are regulated by Part 40 may elect to be enrolled in a "stand alone" random testing pool.
The DOT consortium is cost effective and complies with all requirements of 49 CFR Part 40 which mandates that all "safety sensitive" employees be enrolled in a random drug and alcohol testing program.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has strict regulations requiring regulated companies and independent operators (CDL License Holders) to be an active member of a DOT drug and alcohol Consortium and failure to comply with these regulations can result in significant fines and other DOT sanctions.
We are fully versed in the DOT procedures for pre-employment drug testing, random drug testing, reasonable suspicion drug testing, post-accident drug testing, return to duty drug testing and follow up drug testing.
DOT regulated companies with multiple safety sensitive employees must also have an employee within the company who is assigned as the "designated employer representative" (DER). This is the person responsible for removing any DOT "safety sensitive" employee who is covered by 49 CFR Part 40 from performing a DOT safety sensitive position when a positive drug or alcohol test result has occurred or an employee has refused to take a required DOT test.
If you have recently become a DOT regulated company, within the next 18 months the Department of Transportation (DOT) will conduct a "new entrant" inspection to ensure that you are in compliance with all DOT regulations including the drug and alcohol testing requirements. If you are currently a DOT regulated company, you are subject to regular inspections to ensure compliance.
Avoid DOT fines, penalties and be complaint with all DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations! Coastal Drug Testing can assist small, medium and large DOT companies in complying with all requirements of 49 CFR Part 40.
DOT Drug Testing Locations in York Center IL
2340 S Highland Ave Ste 330, 1.6 miles
Lombard, IL 60148
130 S MAIN ST 1ST FL IMMEDIATE CARE OCC HEALTH 2.0 miles
LOMBARD, IL 60148
155 E BRUSH HILL RD 2.6 miles
ELMHURST, IL 60126
129 W SAINT CHARLES RD 2.7 miles
LOMBARD, IL 60148
875 ROOSEVELT RD STE 200 3.2 miles
GLEN ELLYN, IL 60137
639 W NORTH AVE 3.4 miles
VILLA PARK, IL 60181
1200 S YORK RD Center for Health 3.7 miles
ELMHURST, IL 60126
533 W North Ave, LL Suite 50 3.7 miles
Elmhurst, IL 60126
2450 WOLF RD STE I 4.6 miles
WESTCHESTER, IL 60154
534 CHESTNUT ST, STE 230 4.6 miles
HINSDALE, IL 60521
40 S CLAY ST STE 100E 4.6 miles
HINSDALE, IL 60521
321 W LAKE ST STE C 4.7 miles
ELMHURST, IL 60126
565 N YORK ST 4.8 miles
ELMHURST, IL 60126
303 W LAKE ST 5.4 miles
ADDISON, IL 60101
701 WINTHROP AVE 5.4 miles
GLENDALE HEIGHTS, IL 60139
1113 Fairview Ave, 5.8 miles
Westmont, IL 60559
2615 HARRISON ST 6.3 miles
BELLWOOD, IL 60104
1983 N MANNHEIM RD 6.5 miles
MELROSE PARK, IL 60160
125 N LA GRANGE RD 6.5 miles
LA GRANGE, IL 60525
5101 WILLOW SPRINGS RD 6.6 miles
LA GRANGE, IL 60525
303 E Army Trail Rd, Ste 111 6.6 miles
Bloomingdale, IL 60108
211 E ARMY TRAIL RD 6.7 miles
BLOOMINGDALE, IL 60108
273 E ARMY TRAIL RD 6.7 miles
BLOOMINGDALE, IL 60108
1339 W LAKE ST 6.7 miles
ADDISON, IL 60101
18W125 RODGERS CT 6.9 miles
DARIEN, IL 60561
535 PLAINFIELD RD STE C 7.0 miles
WILLOWBROOK, IL 60527
7421 S CASS AVE 7.2 miles
DARIEN, IL 60561
Fitness Department, 7.4 miles
Melrose Park, IL 60101
1240 IL ROUTE 83 7.5 miles
BENSENVILLE, IL 60106
10137 GRAND AVE 7.5 miles
FRANKLIN PARK, IL 60131
1225 W LAKE ST STE 101 7.6 miles
MELROSE PARK, IL 60160
7530 WOODWARD AVE 7.7 miles
WOODRIDGE, IL 60517
7530 Woodward Ave. Suite G, 7.8 miles
Woodridge, IL 60517
6555 WILLOW SPRINGS RD STE 6 7.9 miles
LA GRANGE HIGHLANDS, IL 60525
6300 KINGERY HWY STE 404 8.0 miles
WILLOWBROOK, IL 60527
6170 JOLIET RD 8.2 miles
COUNTRYSIDE, IL 60525
ONSITE ONLY 8.4 miles
WILLOWBROOK, IL 60527
4200 MANNHEIM RD 8.5 miles
SCHILLER PARK, IL 60176
113 W LAKE ST 8.6 miles
BLOOMINGDALE, IL 60108
1020 E OGDEN AVE STE 208 8.6 miles
NAPERVILLE, IL 60563
7222 W CERMAK RD 8.9 miles
NORTH RIVERSIDE, IL 60546
471 W Army Trail Rd Ste 101, 9.0 miles
Bloomingdale, IL 60108
245 S GARY AVE STE 101 9.0 miles
BLOOMINGDALE, IL 60108
9532 EAGLE WAY 9.2 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60678
610 S Maple Ave, Ste 5800 9.6 miles
Oak Park, IL 60304
O'Hare International Airport Terminal 2 9.6 miles
Chicago, IL 60666
1190 S NAPER BLVD 9.7 miles
NAPERVILLE, IL 60540
1220 HOBSON RD STE 220 9.8 miles
NAPERVILLE, IL 60540
126 BIESTERFIELD RD 10.2 miles
ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL 60007
801 S WASHINGTON ST 10.3 miles
NAPERVILLE, IL 60540
640 S Washington St Ste 140, 10.3 miles
Naperville, IL 60540
2333 N HARLEM AVE STE 100 10.4 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60707
7230 W NORTH AVE STE 106B 10.4 miles
ELMWOOD PARK, IL 60707
2200 LANDMEIER RD STE 2200 10.7 miles
ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL 60007
413 S HARVEY AVE 10.8 miles
OAK PARK, IL 60302
4830 N Cumberland Ave Ste 9 10.9 miles
Norridge, IL 60706
1830 JARVIS AVE 10.9 miles
ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL 60007
537 N HARVEY AVE 10.9 miles
OAK PARK, IL 60302
4900 N CUMBERLAND AVE 10.9 miles
NORRIDGE, IL 60706
7107 W BELMONT AVE 10.9 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60634
3101 N HARLEM AVE LOWER LEVEL 11.2 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60634
636 RAYMOND DR STE 102 11.3 miles
NAPERVILLE, IL 60563
484 W Boughton Rd, 11.4 miles
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
5601 W CERMAK RD 11.5 miles
CICERO, IL 60804
130 N WEBER RD STE 108 11.7 miles
BOLINGBROOK, IL 60440
6500 W 65TH ST 12.0 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60638
1971 Gowdy Road 12.0 miles
Naperville, IL 60563
519 S ROSELLE RD 12.1 miles
SCHAUMBURG, IL 60193
1515 E LAKE ST STE 100 12.1 miles
HANOVER PARK, IL 60133
1375 E SCHAUMBURG RD 12.2 miles
SCHAUMBURG, IL 60194
7742 W HIGGINS RD 12.3 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60631
391 S BOLINGBROOK DR 12.4 miles
BOLINGBROOK, IL 60440
480 QUADRANGLE DR 12.4 miles
BOLINGBROOK, IL 60440
6191 N CANFIELD AVE 12.7 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60631
8755 S HARLEM AVE 13.0 miles
BRIDGEVIEW, IL 60455
1060 S ELMHURST RD 13.3 miles
MOUNT PROSPECT, IL 60056
808 E Woodfield Rd Ste 400, 13.4 miles
Schaumburg, IL 60173
4940 S CICERO AVE 13.5 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60638
5015 W 65TH ST 13.6 miles
BEDFORD PARK, IL 60638
4126 N Milwaukee Ave, 14.0 miles
Chicago, IL 60641
2380 S ELMHURST RD 14.1 miles
MOUNT PROSPECT, IL 60056
4211 N CICERO AVE 14.2 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60641
361 W GOLF RD 14.3 miles
SCHAUMBURG, IL 60195
4757 W MONTROSE AVE 14.3 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60641
3040 SOUTHCREEK LANE 14.3 miles
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60005
5525 S PULASKI RD FL 3 14.4 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60629
605 W CENTRAL RD STE 101 14.5 miles
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60005
800 W CENTRAL RD 14.5 miles
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60005
141 E. IRVING PARK ROAD 14.5 miles
STREAMWOOD, IL 60107
3052 WEBER DR 14.5 miles
AURORA, IL 60502
1100 W. Central Rd., Suite 402 14.6 miles
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
100 N RIVER RD 14.6 miles
DES PLAINES, IL 60016
1600 Dempster St Ste 218, 14.6 miles
Park Ridge, IL 60068
2272 W 95TH STREET, STE 100 14.6 miles
NAPERVILLE, IL 60564
1214 Brownwood Ste B 14.8 miles
Mount Prospect, IL 60056
4100 HEALTHWAY DR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICEES 15.0 miles
AURORA, IL 60504
5660 W 95TH ST 15.0 miles
OAK LAWN, IL 60453
1044 N FRANCISCO AVE 15.1 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60622
1280 WINDHAM PKWY 15.1 miles
ROMEOVILLE, IL 60446
726 S WEBER RD 15.3 miles
BOLINGBROOK, IL 60490
4801 W Peterson Ave Ste 205, 15.3 miles
Chicago, IL 60646
2853 KIRK RD 15.3 miles
AURORA, IL 60502
3360 LACROSSE LN STE 110 15.4 miles
NAPERVILLE, IL 60564
8630 W GOLF RD 15.5 miles
NILES, IL 60714
7800 W College Dr, Room 1-W 15.5 miles
Palos Heights, IL 60463
835 S WOLCOTT AVE STE E144 15.5 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60612
121 SOUTH WILKE RD, #405 15.5 miles
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60005
2635 Church Rd Ste 105 15.6 miles
Aurora, IL 60502
12255 S 80TH AVE 15.7 miles
PALOS HEIGHTS, IL 60463
8125 RIVER DR STE 102 15.7 miles
MORTON GROVE, IL 60053
1555 BARRINGTON RD 15.8 miles
HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL 60169
2900 FOXFIELD RD STE 100 15.8 miles
SAINT CHARLES, IL 60174
1431 N Western Ave Ste 137, 15.9 miles
Chicago, IL 60622
2334A W HIGGINS RD 15.9 miles
HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL 60195
REMIT ONLY: DEPT 77-6478 16.0 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60678
75 REMITTANCE DR STE 1660 16.0 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60675
2500 W Higgins Rd Ste 460, 16.1 miles
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
3060 W SALT CREEK LN STE 110 16.3 miles
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60005
6449 DEMPSTER ST 16.3 miles
MORTON GROVE, IL 60053
4949 EUCLID AVE 16.4 miles
PALATINE, IL 60067
5533 W 109TH ST STE 103 16.4 miles
OAK LAWN, IL 60453
1520 N DAMEN AVE 16.4 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60622
525 TYLER RD STE J 16.4 miles
SAINT CHARLES, IL 60174
1545 HICKS RD 16.6 miles
ROLLING MEADOWS, IL 60008
2000 OGDEN AVE 16.6 miles
AURORA, IL 60504
3145 S ASHLAND AVE STE 110 16.6 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60608
3316 S ASHLAND AVE 16.7 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60608
1955 RANDI DR 16.7 miles
AURORA, IL 60504
2088 Ogden Ave, Ste 240 16.8 miles
Aurora, IL 60504
10837 S Cicero Ave Ste 310, 17.0 miles
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
1 KRAFT CT 17.0 miles
GLENVIEW, IL 60025
2400 N. Ashland Ave Suite 100 17.1 miles
Chicago, IL 60614
1230 W LAKE ST 17.1 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60607
725 FABYAN PARKWAY, SUITE D 17.1 miles
BATAVIA, IL 60510
5961 N LINCOLN AVE UNIT 2 17.2 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60659
1188 E STATE ST STE D 17.2 miles
GENEVA, IL 60134
311 N ABERDEEN ST STE 100B 17.3 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60607
309 WALNUT ST 17.3 miles
SAINT CHARLES, IL 60174
1030 W CHICAGO AVE 17.4 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60642
2361 Reliable Parkway 17.4 miles
Chicago, IL 60686
2393 Reliable Parkway 17.4 miles
Chicago, IL 60686
14475 John Humphrey Dr Ste 100, 17.4 miles
Orland Park, IL 60462
3317 W 95TH ST LOWR LEVEL STE 5 17.4 miles
EVERGREEN PARK, IL 60805
2500 W FABYAN PKWY 17.5 miles
BATAVIA, IL 60510
5709 S. Loomis Blvd 17.5 miles
Chicago, IL 60636
50 S NORTHWEST HWY 17.6 miles
PALATINE, IL 60074
14330 S WILL COOK RD 17.6 miles
HOMER GLEN, IL 60491
371 West Northwest Highway 17.7 miles
Palatine, IL 60067
902 W DUNDEE RD RIDGE PLAZA 17.7 miles
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60004
1460 N Halsted St Ste 201, 17.8 miles
Chicago, IL 60642
614 W MONROE ST 17.8 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60661
600 W ADAMS ST 17.8 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60661
13641 S ROUTE 59 17.9 miles
Plainfield, IL 60544
onsite for POH only 17.9 miles
ORLAND PARK, IL 60462
16221 W 159th St 17.9 miles
Lockport, IL 60441
2300 W PETERSON AVE 18.0 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60659
24600 W 127TH ST 18.0 miles
PLAINFIELD, IL 60585
2150 PFINGSTEN RD STE 3000 18.0 miles
GLENVIEW, IL 60026
2150 PFINGSTEN RD 18.0 miles
GLENVIEW, IL 60026
815 N RANDALL RD 18.1 miles
BATAVIA, IL 60510
650 W 51ST ST 18.2 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60609
300 W ADAMS ST STE 835 18.2 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60606
3000 N. Halsted, Suite 604 18.2 miles
Chicago, IL 60657
143 S LINCOLN AVE STE B 18.3 miles
AURORA, IL 60505
151 S LINCOLN AVE 18.3 miles
AURORA, IL 60505
36 W RANDOLPH ST STE 705 18.3 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60601
219 W CHICAGO AVE 18.4 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60654
24600 W 127th St Ste 310, Building B 18.4 miles
Plainfield, IL 60585
13246 S ROUTE 59 STE 106 18.4 miles
PLAINFIELD, IL 60585
2868 N BROADWAY ST 18.4 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60657
4709 W. Golf, Suite 806 18.5 miles
Skokie, IL 60076
2631 WILLIAMSBURG AVE, STE 206 18.5 miles
GENEVA, IL 60134
811 S STATE ST STE B 18.6 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60605
337 W. Northwest Highway, 18.6 miles
Palatine, IL 60067
2800 N Sheridan Rd Ste G1, 18.7 miles
Chicago, IL 60657
2601 COMPASS RD, STE 130 18.7 miles
GLENVIEW NAS, IL 60026
111 N Wabash Ave Ste 1514, 18.7 miles
Chicago, IL 60602
55 E WASHINGTON ST STE 2500 18.7 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60602
2591 Compass Rd Ste 110, 18.7 miles
Glenview, IL 60026
2907 S WABASH AVE STE 100 18.7 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60616
3201 S WALLACE ST 18.7 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60616
2600 S Michigan Ave 18.8 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60616
300 E RANDOLPH ST CL404 18.9 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60601
1000 S HAMILTON ST 18.9 miles
LOCKPORT, IL 60441
676 N SAINT CLAIR ST STE 900 19.0 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60611
9570 W 159TH ST STE A 19.0 miles
ORLAND PARK, IL 60467
233 E ERIE ST STE 602 19.0 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60611
82 Miller Dr Ste 101, 19.1 miles
North Aurora, IL 60542
4742 CAL SAG RD 19.1 miles
CRESTWOOD, IL 60445
4800 W 129TH ST 19.2 miles
ALSIP, IL 60803
10737 W. 165TH STREET 19.2 miles
ORLAND PARK, IL 60467
2929 S ELLIS AVE 19.3 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60616
6140 N BROADWAY ST 19.3 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60660
3310 W Main St, 19.4 miles
St Charles, IL 60175
3310 W MAIN STREET, STE 105 19.4 miles
SAINT CHARLES, IL 60175
1851 DOUGLAS RD 19.5 miles
MONTGOMERY, IL 60538
3333 BEVERLY RD 19.6 miles
HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL 60179
770 E Dundee Rd 19.6 miles
Palatine, IL 60074
1734 W 105TH ST 19.7 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60643
800 Austin St, East Tower Ste 457 19.7 miles
Evanston, IL 60202
544A W DUNDEE RD 19.8 miles
WHEELING, IL 60090
10242 S VINCENNES AVE 20.0 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60643
5841 S MARYLAND AVE 20.3 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60637
1870 W GALENA BLVD 20.3 miles
AURORA, IL 60506
15 S MCHENRY RD 20.6 miles
BUFFALO GROVE, IL 60089
16325 HARLEM AVE STE 110 20.8 miles
TINLEY PARK, IL 60477
18210 LA GRANGE RD STE 110 21.0 miles
TINLEY PARK, IL 60487
306 ERA DR 21.0 miles
NORTHBROOK, IL 60062
605 ACADEMY DR 21.0 miles
NORTHBROOK, IL 60062
2310 York St Ste 4A 21.1 miles
Blue Island, IL 60406
530 N MCLEAN BLVD 21.1 miles
ELGIN, IL 60123
250 E MAPLE ST 21.5 miles
NEW LENOX, IL 60451
12647 S JUSTINE ST 21.5 miles
CALUMET PARK, IL 60827
16101 WEBER RD 21.6 miles
CREST HILL, IL 60403
17148 HARLEM AVE 21.6 miles
TINLEY PARK, IL 60477
117 S COOK ST STE 306 21.9 miles
BARRINGTON, IL 60010
8751 S Greenwood Ave Ste 106, 21.9 miles
Chicago, IL 60619
1411 MCHENRY RD STE 103 21.9 miles
BUFFALO GROVE, IL 60089
1450 Busch Pkwy, 22.1 miles
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
1974 E 73RD ST 22.1 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60649
2306 ESSINGTON RD 22.2 miles
JOLIET, IL 60435
6701 159TH ST OCC HEALTH 22.2 miles
TINLEY PARK, IL 60477
12942 S CARPENTER ST 22.2 miles
CALUMET PARK, IL 60827
750 Fletcher Dr Ste 202, 22.4 miles
Elgin, IL 60123
900 E 103RD ST 22.4 miles
CHICAGO, IL 60628
PO BOX 63 22.6 miles
MOKENA, IL 60448
19070 EVERETT BLVD, UNIT 111 22.7 miles
MOKENA, IL 60448
800 N LARKIN AVE 23.2 miles
JOLIET, IL 60435
1710 N RANDALL ROAD STE 240 23.5 miles
ELGIN, IL 60123
On-Site ONLY 23.6 miles
Plainfield, IL 60586
1051 ESSINGTON RD STE 140 23.6 miles
JOLIET, IL 60435
350 Surryse Rd, 23.7 miles
Lake Zurich, IL 60047
6701 US HIGHWAY 34 23.8 miles
OSWEGO, IL 60543
2000 GLENWOOD AVE 23.8 miles
JOLIET, IL 60435
2100 GLENWOOD AVE 23.8 miles
JOLIET, IL 60435
16501 KEDZIE AVE 23.8 miles
MARKHAM, IL 60428
330 MADISON ST STE B2 23.9 miles
JOLIET, IL 60435
621 E LINCOLN HWY 23.9 miles
NEW LENOX, IL 60451
310 N. Hammes Ave Ste 102, 23.9 miles
Joliet, IL 60435
750 ESSINGTON RD 23.9 miles
JOLIET, IL 60435
333 MADISON ST 24.0 miles
JOLIET, IL 60435
15600 HONORE AVE 24.1 miles
HARVEY, IL 60426
32 UNO CIR 24.2 miles
JOLIET, IL 60435
2490 BUSHWOOD DR STE F 24.3 miles
ELGIN, IL 60124
22285 Pepper Road, Suite S-107 25.0 miles
Barrington, IL 60010
(Don't see a location near you? Call us (800) 828-7086)
Local Area Info: Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung (officially transcribed Kim Il Sung; English pronunciation: /?k?m ??l?s??, -?s??/; Chos?n'g?l: ???; Korean pronunciation: [kimils???]; born Kim S?ng-ju (???); 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was the first leader of North Korea which he ruled from the country's establishment in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of Premier from 1948 to 1972 and President from 1972 to 1994. He was also the leader of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) from 1949 to 1994 (titled as Chairman from 1949 to 1966 and as General Secretary after 1966). Coming to power after the end of Japanese rule in 1945, he authorized the invasion of South Korea in 1950, triggering an intervention in defense of South Korea by the United Nations led by the United States. Following the military stalemate in the Korean War, a ceasefire was signed on 27 July 1953. He was the second longest-serving non-royal head of state/government in the 20th century, in office for more than 48 years.
Under his leadership, North Korea became a communist state with a publicly owned and planned economy. It had close political and economic relations with the Soviet Union. By the 1960s, North Korea enjoyed a standard of living higher than the South, which was fraught with political instability and economic crises. The situation reversed in the mid-1970s, as a newly stable South Korea became an economic powerhouse fueled by Japanese and American investment, military aid and internal economic development while North Korea stagnated. Differences emerged between North Korea and the Soviet Union, central among them Kim Il-sung's philosophy of Juche, which focused on Korean nationalism and self-reliance. Despite this, the country received funds, subsidies and aid from the USSR (and the Eastern Bloc) until the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. The resulting loss of economic aid adversely affected the North's economy, causing widespread famine in 1994. During this period, North Korea also remained critical of the United States defense force's presence in the region, which it considered imperialism, having seized the American ship USS Pueblo (AGER-2) in 1968. He outlived Joseph Stalin by four decades and Mao Zedong by almost two and remained in power during the terms of office of six South Korean Presidents, ten U.S. Presidents and the rule of British monarchs George VI and later his daughter Elizabeth II. Known as the Great Leader (Suryong), he was the focus of a personality cult which dominated domestic politics in North Korea.
At the 6th WPK Congress in 1980, his oldest son Kim Jong-il was elected as a Presidium member and chosen as his heir apparent to the supreme leadership. Kim Il-sung's birthday is a public holiday in North Korea called the "Day of the Sun". In 1998, Kim Il-sung was declared "eternal President of the Republic". During his rule, North Korea was widely characterized as a totalitarian state with widespread human rights abuses, including mass executions and prison camps.