Popular Party
민중당
AbbreviationPP
Founded10 November 1990
Dissolved23 March 1992
Merged into
Ideology
Political positionCentre-left to left-wing

The Popular Party (Korean: 민중당, romanized: Minjungdang) was a left-wing political party of South Korea from 1989 to 1992.

History

A part of socialist movements in the late 1980s, the party was formed by the former members of the Hankyoreh Democratic Party (HDP) and the Party of the People (PotP).[4] The HDP, which was originally formed in 1988, lost its sole elected representative, Park Hyung-oh, and kept declining. The 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),[5][6] and officially formed on 10 November 1990 as Popular Party.[7][2] That day, they also elected Lee Woo-jae as its Permanent President, Kim Sang-ki and Kim Nak-joong as the Co-Presidents,[7] Jang Gi-pyo as the Chairman of Policy, and Lee Jae-oh as the Secretary-General.[2]

During the 1991 local elections, 42 candidates ran under the PP banner but only 1 (Sung Hui-jik) was elected. In the 1992 election, 51 were running, and no one was elected.[6][4] The party was immediately deregistered under the electoral law.[8]

Many of members changed their ideology to right.[6] Notable figures i.e. Kim Moon-soo, Lee Jae-oh,[4] and Cha Myong-jin, later joined the right-wing Democratic Liberal Party.[6] 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.[4]

Policies

The party advocated planned economy, and sought for the nationalisation of industries, financial institutions, natural resources, and land.[2] It also supported the labour policies of Swedish Social Democratic Party.[2]

The party refused to merge with Democratic Party, although they considered about electoral alliances.[9]

1992 election manifestos

The party announced its 15 manifestos for 1992 election.[10]

  • Limit the personal stock ownership to maximum 5%
  • Reduce the period of national service till 18 months (= 1.5 years)
  • Nationalisation of land
  • Introduction of real-name financial transaction system
  • Application of public operating system for bus, and private ownership of taxis
  • Abolition of the National Security Act
  • Allow political activities for trade unions
  • Open ballot system for general election
  • Two-round system for presidential election
  • Increase domestic spending by 20% for welfare system
  • Protect agricultural industry and allow co-operative
  • Stop the streamlining of coal industry, and public corporatisation of coal mine
  • Gender equality and introduction of Anti-Sexual Harassment Act
  • Reinstatement of teachers from KTU and the expansion of compulsory education
  • Harsher penalties for environmental pollution and build nuclear plants by referendum

Election results

Legislature

Election Leader Votes  % Seats Position Status
Constituency Party list Total
1992
  • Kim Sang-ki
  • Kim Nak-joong
 319,041 1.55
0 / 237
0 / 62
0 / 299
 5th Extra-parliamentary

Local

Election Leader Metropolitan mayor/Governor Provincial legislature
1991 Collective leadership
0 / 15
1 / 866

References

  1. ↑ https://archives.kdemo.or.kr/isad/view/00005383
  2. ↑ https://archives.kdemo.or.kr/isad/view/00015791
  3. 1 2 3 4 "궁핍한 생활 견디며 진보의 한길로". 29 May 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  4. ↑ "진보정당 내년3월 창당 '준비모임' 기자회견". 11 November 1989. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "[김진 시시각각] 잘못 부러진 차명진의 팔". 15 March 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  6. 1 2 "「민중당」 정식출범". 10 November 1990. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  7. ↑ "당해체후 진로논의 민중당". 8 April 1992. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  8. ↑ "민주당과 통합안해 민중당,총선등선 연대". 22 October 1991. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  9. ↑ "민중당 15개 총선 공약 내놔". 28 February 1992. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
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