Socialist Party (South Korea)
Encyclopedia
Socialist Party is a minor left-wing political party in South Korea
, founded in 1998. It advocates an ideology of socialism
, social republicanism, peace
and environmentalism
.
) was formed as a preparation of South Korean presidential election, 1997
. It was an attempt to unite the progressivists
in South Korea, but some progressivists focusing on class struggle
didn't agree to the policy line of VoP21 - they thought there was an excess of nationalism
in VoP21. For example, the slogan of Kwon Young-ghil
, the presidential candidate of VoP21, was "Stand up, Korea!" ("일어나라 코리아!"). After the election, these progressivists formed Youth Progressive Party (청년진보당).
The Youth Progressive Party ran for election of National Assembly
in Guro-gu
local constituency, and gained 4.1% of votes. In August 2001, the party changed its name to Socialist Party under the slogan of "Against Capitalism
, Against WPK
", aiming some nationalists called NL(National Liberation) in DLP.
The party has changed its name to Hope Socialist Party (희망사회당) in April 2006, and to Korea Socialist Party (한국사회당) in October 2006 due to the Korean law forbidding the usage of a party name for four years when registration is canceled.
In 2008 General Election, the party got votes less than 3% and the national election committee canceled its registration
. In November, the party registered again with the name of Socialist Party.
) but has never won any elections.
For the 2007 presidential election
, Geum Min ran as the party's candidate for president. He proposed the idea of social republicanism, now adapted as a plank on the party's platform.
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...
, founded in 1998. It advocates an ideology of socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
, social republicanism, peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
and environmentalism
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
.
History
The Victory of People 21 (국민승리21) party (later DLPDemocratic Labour Party (South Korea)
The Democratic Labor Party , established in January 2000, is a left-wing nationalist political party in South Korea. It was founded in the effort to create a political wing for the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, considered more left and independent of the two union federations in South Korea...
) was formed as a preparation of South Korean presidential election, 1997
South Korean presidential election, 1997
The 15th South Korean Presidential Election took place on 19 December 1997.-Results:...
. It was an attempt to unite the progressivists
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
in South Korea, but some progressivists focusing on class struggle
Class struggle
Class struggle is the active expression of a class conflict looked at from any kind of socialist perspective. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote "The [written] history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle"....
didn't agree to the policy line of VoP21 - they thought there was an excess of nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
in VoP21. For example, the slogan of Kwon Young-ghil
Kwon Young-ghil
Kwon Young-ghil is a South Korean politician. He has a Bachelor's degree in sericulture from Seoul National University. Before turning to politics, he led several labour organizations including Korean Federation of Press Unions and Korean Confederation of Trade Unions...
, the presidential candidate of VoP21, was "Stand up, Korea!" ("일어나라 코리아!"). After the election, these progressivists formed Youth Progressive Party (청년진보당).
The Youth Progressive Party ran for election of National Assembly
National Assembly of South Korea
The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea is a 299-member unicameral legislature. The latest general elections were held on April 9, 2008. Single-member constituencies comprise 245 of the National Assembly's seats, while the remaining 54 are allocated by proportional representation...
in Guro-gu
Guro-gu
Guro is a district of Seoul, South Korea, which was separated from Yeongdeungpo on April 1, 1980. Located in the southwestern part of the city, Guro has an important position as a transport link from the rest of Seoul to the south of the country. The Gyeongbu and Gyeongin railway lines connect...
local constituency, and gained 4.1% of votes. In August 2001, the party changed its name to Socialist Party under the slogan of "Against Capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
, Against WPK
Workers' Party of Korea
The Workers' Party of Korea is the ruling Communist party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea. It is also called the Korean Workers' Party...
", aiming some nationalists called NL(National Liberation) in DLP.
The party has changed its name to Hope Socialist Party (희망사회당) in April 2006, and to Korea Socialist Party (한국사회당) in October 2006 due to the Korean law forbidding the usage of a party name for four years when registration is canceled.
In 2008 General Election, the party got votes less than 3% and the national election committee canceled its registration
Election threshold
In party-list proportional representation systems, an election threshold is a clause that stipulates that a party must receive a minimum percentage of votes, either nationally or within a particular district, to obtain any seats in the parliament...
. In November, the party registered again with the name of Socialist Party.
Elections
For several times, the Party has run candidates for President or Parliament (e.g. Kim Yeong-gyu in the presidential election, 2002South Korean Presidential Election, 2002
The 16th South Korean Presidential Election took place on 19 December 2002. The election was won by Roh Moo-Hyun of the Millennium Democratic Party, who beat Lee Hoi-chang of the Grand National Party by just over half a million votes.-Results:...
) but has never won any elections.
For the 2007 presidential election
South Korean presidential election, 2007
The 17th South Korean presidential election took place on 19 December 2007. The election was won by Lee Myung-bak of the Grand National Party, returning conservatives to the Blue House for the first time in ten years...
, Geum Min ran as the party's candidate for president. He proposed the idea of social republicanism, now adapted as a plank on the party's platform.
See also
- List of political parties in South Korea
- 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...
- Elections in South KoreaElections in South KoreaElections in South Korea are held on national level to select the President and the National Assembly.The president is directly elected for a single five-year term by plurality vote. The National Assembly has 299 members elected for a four-year term, 245 in single-seat constituencies and 54 members...
External links
- Socialist Party official website