List of political parties in South Korea

South Korea

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of South Korea

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This article lists political parties in South Korea. South Korea has a multi-party system in which political parties have a chance of gaining power alone.

Parties

As of August 2008, there are seven political parties present in the National Assembly:

Major parties

Party	National Assembly	Comments
Grand National Party(GNP) Hannaradang 한나라당	171	represented by Park Geun-hye
Democratic United Party (DUP) Minju Tonghabdang 민주통합당	90	formed as a merger of the Democratic Party with the Citizens Unity Party

Third parties

Party	National Assembly	Comments
Liberty Forward Party (LFP) Jayu Seonjindang 자유선진당	16	led by Lee Hoi-chang who was 1997/2002/2007 presidential nominee for Grand National Party
Future Hope Alliance (FHA) Mirae Heemang Yeondae 미래희망연대	8	supporting Grand National Party's Park Geun-hye, led by Seo Cheongwon
Democratic Labor Party (DLP) Minju Nodongdang 민주노동당	6	represented by Gang Gigap
Creative Korea Party (CKP) Changjo Hangukdang 창조한국당	2	led by Song Yeongo
New Progressive Party (NPP) Jinbo Sindang 진보신당	1	led by Roh Hoe-chan, split from Democratic Labor Party
People First Union (PFU) Gungmin Jungsim Yeonhap 국민중심연합	1	led by Sim Daepyeong, split from Liberty Forward Party

Other registered parties include:

• People's Participation Party (국민참여당 Gungmin Chamyeodang)
• Christian Agape Party (기독사랑실천당 Gidok Sarang Silcheondang)
• Socialist Party (사회당 Sahoedang) to be re-formed from Korea Socialist Party

In the National Assembly

Parties in the 18th Assembly of South Korea Group Seats  %   Grand National Party 170 57.4   Democratic Party 84 28.4 Forward and Renewal Alliance*   Liberty Forward Party   Creative Korea Party** 20 18 2 6.8 6.0 0.8   Pro-Park Coalition 5 1.7   Democratic Labor Party 5 1.7   New Progressive Party 1 0.3   Creative Korea Party** 1 0.3 Independents 10 3.4 Total*** 296 100.0 Note: * Negotiation groups can be formed by 20 or more members. There are currently 3 negotiation groups in the Assembly, two are party groups formed by Grand National Party and Democratic Party, and the other one is a solidarity group, jointly formed by Liberty Forward Party and Creative Korea Party. ** One member of Creative Korea Party refused to join Forward and Renewal Alliance group *** 3 Members of the Assembly of Pro-Park Alliance lost their seats due to violation of election law. Seats of proportional representatives lost by violation of election law cannot be succeeded in South Korea, thus total seats of 18th National Assembly also reduced to 296. Source: official website of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea

Defunct parties

Liberal parties

Main article: Liberalism in South Korea

• Democratic Party (Former) (1948-1951, 1955-1961)
• New Democracy Party (1967-1980)
• New Korean Democratic Party (1984-1987)
• Democratic Reunification Party (1987-1990)
• Party for Peace and Democracy (1987-1991)
• Democratic Party (1990-1995)
• National Congress for New Politics (1995~200)
• Millennium Democratic Party (2000-2005)
• Our Uri Party (2003-2007)
• United New Democratic Party (2007-2008)
• United Democratic Party/Democratic Party (2008-2011)

Conservative parties

• Korean Independence Party (1945-1969)
• Liberal Party (1951-1970)
• Democratic-Republican Party (1963-1980)
• Democratic Justice Party (1981-1990)
• Korean National party(1981~1987)
• New Democratic-Republican Party (1987~1990)
• Democratic Liberal Party (1990-1995)
• New Korea Party (1995-1997)
• United Liberal Democratic Party (1995-2006) - most of the members participated in People First Party
• People First Party (2005-2008) - current 'Liberty Forward Party'

Socialist parties

• Victory People's 21(1987 ~ 1990)
• Young Socialist Party(1987-1990)

See also

• List of political parties by country
• Politics of South Korea
• List of Korea-related topics

References

• The present state of registered political parties, National Election Commission of S. Korea.
• The present state of political parties registration, National Election Commission of S. Korea, May 29, 2008.