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Korea Democratic Party

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Korea Democratic Party
한국민주당 / 한민당
LeaderSong Jin-woo
Founded1945
Dissolved1949 (banned)
Preceded byNone
HeadquartersSeoul
NewspaperNone
International affiliationNone
ColoursRed and Green
Korea Democratic Party
Hangul
한국민주당
Hanja
韓國民主黨
Revised RomanizationHan-guk Minjudang
McCune–ReischauerHan'guk Minjudang

The Korea Democratic Party (hangul: 한국민주당, hanja: 韓國民主黨) was the leading opposition party in the first years of the First Republic of South Korea. It existed from 1945 to 1949, when it merged with other opposition parties. Prominent members included Yun Po-sun. The party supported Syngman Rhee in the election of the president in 1948, but none of its members were included in his cabinet; this snub led to the party joining the opposition.

The party received 12.7% of the vote in the 1948 South Korean general election.[1]

In North Korea

Originally called the Christian Social Democratic Party, the party was formed in opposition to the Soviet ideology of materialism under Christian nationalist leaders Yun Ha Young and Han Kyung Jik on September 9, 1945.[2] It was the first political party formed since Korea was liberated from Japanese occupation. The party had a strong basis in Christian ideals, but later dropped Christian from its name to appeal to a wider section of the Korean public.[2] However, due to pressure on the party from the Soviet government and the departure of Reverend Han Kyong Jik to South Korea, the party was merged into the Korea Democratic Party or Choson Minju-Dang.[2]

On November 13, 1945, and under a new Christian leader, Cho Man Sik, the party organised in Pyongyang with thirty-three members under Cho. Within three months, membership reached 500,000 with branches in all of North Korea's provinces.[2] However, he lacked popular support amongst the people.[3] Ten days later, a student demonstration took place against the growing influence of Communism in North Korea.[2] The new government in North Korea was anti-Christian, confiscating Church land and property and giving it to peasants, which further increased dissent.[4] This led to a popular opposition movement before the division of Korea.

See also

References

  1. ^ South Korea National Electoral Commission
  2. ^ a b c d e Kang, p. 156
  3. ^ South Korea Under United States Occupation, 1945-48
  4. ^ Kang, p. 157

Bibliography

  • Kang, Wi Jo. (1997). Christ and Caesar in Modern Korea: A History of Christianity and Politics. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-3247-1