Democratic Party (South Korea, 2008)

Democratic Party
Founded 17 February 2008
Dissolved 15 December 2011
Merger of United New Democratic Party
Democratic Party (2000)
Centrist Reformists Democratic Party
Merged into Democratic United Party
Headquarters 15-16 Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Ideology Liberalism (South Korean),
Social liberalism,
Income redistribution,
Sunshine Policy
Colours Green
Website
minjoo.kr (Korean)
englishdp.tistory.com (English)
Democratic Party
Hangul 민주당
Hanja
Revised Romanization Minjudang
McCune–Reischauer Minjutang
United Democratic Party
Hangul 통합민주당
Hanja
Revised Romanization Tonghap Minjudang
McCune–Reischauer T'onghap Minjutang

The Democratic Party (Hangul: 민주당 hanja: 民主黨 ) was a liberal political party in South Korea. Since its foundation in 2008, it was the main opposition in the 18th Assembly. In late 2011, it merged into the Democratic United Party.

History

The party was originally formed as the Uri Party (Yeollin Uri-dang) when loyalists to president Roh Moo-hyun in the Millennium Democratic Party chose to break ranks from other party members who showed lukewarm support for the administration. Some 42 out of 103 lawmakers of the Millennium Democratic Party joined the new party, and 5 lawmakers from the Grand National Party also joined, seeking to complete political reforms. As a result of the 2004 Parliamentary election, the party achieved its first nationwide majority in the legislature by winning 152 of 299 seats.

On 18 August 2007, the delegates of the Uri Party decided to disband the party and merge with the newly created liberal party called the United New Democratic Party (Daetonghap Minjusin-dang). After a year, the United New Democratic Party once again merged back with the Democratic Party (2000) previously known as the Millennium Democratic Party and the Centrist Reformists Democratic Party on 17 February 2008 to form the United Democratic Party (Tonghap Minjudang).[1][2] On July 2008 the party had changed its name to the Democratic Party.

In local elections 2010, Democratic Party (DP) scored a victory in eight mayoral and gubernatorial posts, including the Inchon mayorship.[3]

On 16 December 2011, the DP merged with the minor Citizens Unity Party to form the Democratic United Party. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions also participated in the forming.[4][5]

Presidents of DEP

  1. Son Hak-Gyu & Park Sang-Chun (17 February 2008 – 29 May 2008)
  2. Chung Se-kyun (30 May 2008 – 3 October 2010)
  3. Son Hak-gyu (3 October 2010 - Incumbent)

Election results

Legislative elections

Election Total seats won Total votes Share of votes Outcome of election Election leader
2008
81 / 299
4,313,111 25.1% Decrease55 seats; Minority Son Hak-gyu

References

  1. Uri Disbands to Merge With Liberal Party, The Korea Times, Retrieved on 19 August 2007
  2. 통합민주당 공식 출범, The Hankyoreh. Retrieved on 5 March 2008.
  3. Opposition Party Wins S. Korea’s Local Elections
  4. Min-uck, Chung (16 December 2011), "Liberal camp launches new party", The Korea Times, retrieved 10 January 2012
  5. Son, Won-je (2011-12-17). "The United Democratic Party officially launched". The Hankyoreh. Retrieved 2011-12-17.

External links

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