, GFTUK has 1.6 million members, During the
Cold War, its membership was about half of the membership of the ruling
Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). The ratio was comparatively low for a socialist country, evidencing the relatively unimportant role of unions in North Korea, which was one of the most industrialized socialist countries. Nevertheless, GFTUK was considered one of the most important
mass organizations in the country. All workers of 30 years of age are required to be members of GFTUK if they are not members of WPK, the
Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea, or the
Socialist Women's Union of Korea. Domestically, GFTUK was a member of the
popular front Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea until its dissolution in 2024. Internationally, the Federation is affiliated to the
World Federation of Trade Unions, which it joined on May 2, 1947. The unions of GFTUK are affiliated to the various branch organizations of WFTU. The head of the international department of GFTUK is
Im Jong-gi (). The website of the
Korean Friendship Association states that "(The GFTUK) conducts ideological education to ensure its members fully understand the Juche idea and gets them to take part in socialist construction and the management of the socialist economy with the attitude befitting masters. It has its organizations in different branches of industry."
Rodongja Sinmun is the organ of the Central Committee of GFTUK. Officially, the guiding ideology of the organization is
Kimilsungism–Kimjongilism. ==Former chairmen==