Popular Party (South Korea)

A part of socialist movements in the late 1980s, the party was formed by the former member of Hankyoreh Democratic Party (HDP) and Party of the People (PotP).[1] HDP, which was originally formed in 1988, lost its sole elected representative, Park Hyung-oh, and kept declining. PotP was also in difficulties with its minority status. This environment stimulated the pan-alliance of left-wings.

The party was founded on 10 November 1989 with its unofficial name, Preparation Group for the Establishment of Progressive Popular Party (Korean: 진보적 대중정당 건설을 위한 준비모임),[2][3] and officially formed on 10 November 1990 as Popular Party.[4][5] That day, they also elected Lee Woo-jae as its Permanent President, Kim Sang-ki and Kim Nak-joong as Co-Presidents,[4] Jang Gi-pyo as Chairman of Policy, and Lee Jae-oh as Secretary-General.[5]

During the local elections in 1991, 42 candidates ran under the banner of PP, and only 1 (Sung Hui-jik) was elected. In the general election in 1992, 51 were running, and no one was elected.[3][1] The party was immediately deregistered under the electoral law.[6]

Many of members changed their ideology to right.[3] Notable figures i.e. Kim Moon-soo, Lee Jae-oh,[1] and Cha Myong-jin, later joined right-wing Democratic Liberal Party,[3] and now as members of its successor Liberty Korea Party.[1] Lee Woo-jae, who was also one of them, later joined Uri Party, but subsequently retired. Only few members including Roh Hoe-chan, remained as left.[1]

The party advocated planned economy, and sought for the nationalisation of industries, financial institutions, natural resources, and land.[5] It also supported the labour policies of Swedish Social Democratic Party.[5]

The party refused to merge with Democratic Party, although they considered about electoral alliances.[7]