Liberalism in South Korea
Encyclopedia
This article gives an overview of liberalism in South Korea
. It is limited to liberal democratic
parties
with substantial support, mainly proven by having had a representation in parliament.
in South Korea is often used by conservative groupings (See New Right in South Korea). Liberal parties tend to label themselves as "Democratic" or "Progressive" instead.
There has been a tradition of liberal parties since 1955, often organized around persons. Presently the Democratic Party
, the Democratic Labor Party, and the New Progressive Party
are the main successors of the liberal parties' tradition
"Liberal" movements in Korea also differ markedly from liberal movements elsewhere by strongly emphasizing patriotism
and ethnic nationalism
(especially with regard to Korean reunification
) instead of "civic," or "liberal nationalism"
, a characteristic shared with North Korea
. These emphasis has resulted in "Liberalism" being closely associated with Pro-North Korea sentiments in the political sphere. In this critical respect "liberalism" in South Korea bears very little resemblance to "liberalism" as it is understood elsewhere in the world.
(열린우리당)'s split from Millennium Democratic Party (새천년민주당).
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. It is limited to liberal democratic
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
with substantial support, mainly proven by having had a representation in parliament.
Introduction
Note: the word LiberalLiberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
in South Korea is often used by conservative groupings (See New Right in South Korea). Liberal parties tend to label themselves as "Democratic" or "Progressive" instead.
There has been a tradition of liberal parties since 1955, often organized around persons. Presently the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (South Korea)
The Democratic Party was a political party of South Korea.Formerly called the Millennium Democratic Party , or Saecheonnyeon Minju-dang , it changed its name to the present form on May 6, 2005.- History :...
, the Democratic Labor Party, and the New Progressive Party
New Progressive Party (South Korea)
New Progressive Party is a left-wing political party in South Korea. New Progressive party was established by a number of Democratic Labour Party members who left the party in reaction to the dominating Korean nationalist faction.First party president was Roh Hoe-chan, elected at the 2004...
are the main successors of the liberal parties' tradition
"Liberal" movements in Korea also differ markedly from liberal movements elsewhere by strongly emphasizing patriotism
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
and ethnic nationalism
Ethnic nationalism
Ethnic nationalism is a form of nationalism wherein the "nation" is defined in terms of ethnicity. Whatever specific ethnicity is involved, ethnic nationalism always includes some element of descent from previous generations and the implied claim of ethnic essentialism, i.e...
(especially with regard to Korean reunification
Korean reunification
Korean reunification refers to the hypothetical future reunification of North Korea and South Korea under a single government...
) instead of "civic," or "liberal nationalism"
Civic nationalism
Liberal Nationalism is a kind of nationalism identified by political philosophers who believe in a non-xenophobic form of nationalism compatible with liberal values of freedom, tolerance, equality, and individual rights. Ernest Renan and John Stuart Mill are often thought to be early liberal...
, a characteristic shared with North Korea
Juche
Juche or Chuch'e is a Korean word usually translated as "self-reliance." In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , "Juche" refers specifically to a political thesis of Kim Il-sung, the Juche Idea, that identifies the Korean masses as the masters of the country's development...
. These emphasis has resulted in "Liberalism" being closely associated with Pro-North Korea sentiments in the political sphere. In this critical respect "liberalism" in South Korea bears very little resemblance to "liberalism" as it is understood elsewhere in the world.
Timeline
N.B.: The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it is not required for parties to label themselves as a "liberal party."From Democratic Party to Democratic Korea Party
- 1955: Chang MyonChang MyonChang Myon , or John Myun Chang, was a South Korean politician and educator. He was the Vice President of the First Republic and the Prime Minister of the Second Republic...
founds the Democratic Party (Minju Dang) - 1957: Unity Party secedes from the Democratic Party
- 1960: Party splits into the Democratic Party and the New People's Party
- 1961: Party is banned
- 1963: Party is refounded as the New Democracy Party (Sinmin Dang), led from 1971 by Kim Dae-jung. When Kim fled to Japan, Kim Young-samKim Young-samKim Young-sam was a South Korean politician and democratic activist. From 1961, he spent 30 years as South Korea's leader of the opposition, and one of Park Chung-hee's most powerful rivals....
became the party leader - 1981: Party is banned and Kim Dae-jung is sentenced to the death penalty. Factions of the party continue as the Democratic Korea Party (Minjuhanguk Dang)
- 1985: Most of the party joins the ⇒ New Korean Democratic Party, a small and unsuccessful faction
New Korean Democratic Party
- 1985: Lee Min Woo founds the New Korean Democratic Party (Sinhanminju Dang), joined after the 1985 elections by the majority of the ⇒ Democratic Korea Party (including Kim Dae-jung and Kim Young-samKim Young-samKim Young-sam was a South Korean politician and democratic activist. From 1961, he spent 30 years as South Korea's leader of the opposition, and one of Park Chung-hee's most powerful rivals....
) - 1987: The "two Kims" and their followers leave the party to form the ⇒ Democratic Reunification Party; the New Korean Democratic Party disappears
Democratic Reunification Party
- 1987: Kim Dae-jung and Kim Young Sam leave the ⇒ New Korean Democratic Party and form the Democratic Reunification Party (Tongil Minju Dang)
- 1987: Kim Dae-jung leaves the Democratic Reunification Party and forms the ⇒ Party for Peace and Democracy
- 1990: The party merges with the conservative Democratic Justice Party and the New Democratic Republican Party into the conservative Democratic Liberal Party (Minju Jayu Dang). A faction forms the ⇒ Democratic Party
From Party for Peace and Democracy to Democratic Party
- 1987: Kim Dae-jung leaves the ⇒ Democratic Reunifaction Party and forms the Party for Peace and Democracy (P'yonghwa Minju Dang)
- 1991: The party is reorganised into the New United Democratic Party (Sinminju Yeonhap Dang, Sinmin Dang for short)
- 1992: The party merges with the ⇒ Democratic Party and takes the name Democratic Party (Minju Dang)
- 1995: Most of the party follows Kim into the ⇒ National Congress for New Politics, the Democratic Party disappears
Democratic Party (1990)
- 1990: A faction of the ⇒ Democratic Reunification Party forms the Democratic Party (Minju Dang)
- 1991: The party merges with the ⇒ Party for Peace and Democracy into the ⇒ New Democratic Party
From National Congress for New Politics to Democratic Party
- 1995: Most of the ⇒ Democratic Party follows Kim Dae-jung into the National Congress for New Politics (Saejeongchi Gungminhoeui) and succeeded in 1997 in electing Kim to the presidency of South Korea
- 2000: The party is renamed Millennium Democratic Party (Sae Cheonnyeon Minjudang, 새천년민주당)
- 2003: After the election of its candidate Roh Moo-hyunRoh Moo-hyunRoh Moo-hyun GOM GCB was the 16th President of South Korea .Roh's pre-presidential political career was focused on human rights advocacy for student activists in South Korea. His electoral career later expanded to a focus on overcoming regionalism in South Korean politics, culminating in his...
to the presidency, his followers leave the party and formed ⇒ Uri Party - 2005: The party is renamed Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (South Korea)The Democratic Party was a political party of South Korea.Formerly called the Millennium Democratic Party , or Saecheonnyeon Minju-dang , it changed its name to the present form on May 6, 2005.- History :...
(Min-ju Dang)
Uri Party
- 2003: After the election of its candidate Roh Moo-hyunRoh Moo-hyunRoh Moo-hyun GOM GCB was the 16th President of South Korea .Roh's pre-presidential political career was focused on human rights advocacy for student activists in South Korea. His electoral career later expanded to a focus on overcoming regionalism in South Korean politics, culminating in his...
to the presidency, his followers leave the ⇒ Millennium Democratic Party and form the Uri PartyUri PartyThe Yeollin Uri Party , generally abbreviated to Uri Party , was the briefly ruling political party in South Korea with a centrist political ideology...
(Yeollin Uri Dang, 열린 우리당), sometimes known as "Our Open Party." Lasted until August 19, 2007.
The UNDP
- 2007: Most members of the Uri Party, Son Hak-gyuSon Hak-GyuSon Hak-Gyu is a South Korean politician and the former governor of Gyeonggi-do, the most populous province in Korea. He became a politician in 1996 as a congressman of Grand National Party, and became a governor of Gyeonggi-do in 2002...
's conservative-liberal benches, and a group of the civil movement organizations are united as a new political party called The United New Democratic PartyUnited New Democratic PartyThe United New Democratic Party was a political party of South Korea. It was formed out of the Uri Party and its resulting splinter groups. Chung Dong-young was the UNDP candidate in the South Korean presidential election, 2007; he lost to Lee Myung-bak...
(Daetonghap Minju Sindang, 대통합민주신당).
Democratic Party (2008)
On 17 February 2008, the UNDP merged with the Democratic Party (민주당), forming the United Democratic Party (통합민주당, now renamed as the 'Democratic Party'). This was four years after the Uri PartyUri Party
The Yeollin Uri Party , generally abbreviated to Uri Party , was the briefly ruling political party in South Korea with a centrist political ideology...
(열린우리당)'s split from Millennium Democratic Party (새천년민주당).
See also
- History of South KoreaHistory of South KoreaThe history of South Korea formally begins with the establishment of South Korea on 15 August 1948, although Syngman Rhee had declared the establishment in Seoul on 13 August....
- Politics of South KoreaPolitics of South KoreaPolitics of the Republic of Korea takes place in the framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President is the head of state, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and...
- List of political parties in South Korea