Democratic Labor Party (South Korea)
The Democratic Labor Party (DLP, often KDLP) was a progressive and nationalist political party in South Korea. It was founded in January 2000, in the effort to create a political wing for the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and was considered more left-wing and more independent of the two union federations in South Korea. Its party president was Kwon Young-gil, Kang Gi-gap, and Lee Jung-hee. In December 2011, the party merged into the Unified Progressive Party.
Democratic Labor Party 민주노동당 | |
|---|---|
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| Leader | Kwon Young-gil |
| Assembly leader | Gang Gi-Gap |
| Founded | 30 January 2000 |
| Dissolved | 5 December 2011 |
| Succeeded by | Unified Progressive Party |
| Headquarters | Jongdo Building, 25-1 Mullaedong2-ga, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul |
| Ideology | Progressivism[1][2] Democratic socialism[3] Korean nationalism[4] |
| Political position | Left-wing[5][6] |
| Colours | Orange |
| Democratic Labor Party | |
| Hangul | 민주노동당 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Minju Nodongdang |
| McCune–Reischauer | Minju Nodong-tang |
| Part of a series on |
| Progressivism in South Korea |
|---|
|
History
The party gained 10 seats in the National Assembly for the first time in the 2004 parliamentary election, made it became the first major left-wing party to enter the Assembly.
Before and during the 2007 presidential election, conflicts arose between the two main factions within the party. The "equality" or the "left" faction, represented by the People's Democracy group, stressed issues ranging from social welfare, civil liberties, and labor rights, and took an antagonistic position against ruling liberal Roh Moo-hyun government.
Against them, the "autonomy" faction, represented by the National Liberation group,[7] emphasized anti-imperialist struggle and viewed Korean reunification to be a paramount goal. In contrast to the "left" faction, "autonomy" faction advocated "democratic coalition government" (민주연립정부) with the ruling Uri Party, and took a reconciliatory position towards Roh government.
After the 2007 presidential election, the People's Democracy faction quit the party and formed the New Progressive Party (NPP).[7] Despite the split, DLP gained 5 seats in the National Assembly in the 2008 election, but NPP gained none.[8] In the 2009 by-election, NPP got one seat. On 5 December 2011, the party merged with the People's Participation Party and a faction of the NPP to found the Unified Progressive Party by Lee jung-hwee.
Political position
The Democratic Labor Party is a very important party in South Korea's modern progressive history. Numerous progressive parties in South Korea, including the Justice Party, Labor Party, Basic Income Party, and Progressive Party, are rooted in the Democratic Labor Party when they climb up the political lineage.
The Democratic Labor Party argues for socialism and criticizes "liberal politics" and "conservative politics", as well as pro-imperialist "social democratic politics" and Soviet "state socialist politics". The DLP has officially criticized "social democracy" and insisted on (democratic) "socialism", but there have been many positive voices in European socialism, saying that "social democracy is socialism" within the party.[3][9]
Election results
Presidential elections
| Election | Candidate | Total votes | Share of votes | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Kwon Young-ghil | 957,148 | 3.9% | Lost  |
| 2007 | Kwon Young-ghil | 712,121 | 3% | Lost |
Legislative elections
| Election | Total seats won | Total votes | Share of votes | Outcome of election | Election leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 / 273 |
223,261 | 1.2% | 0 seat; Opposition | Kwon Young-ghil |
| 2004 | 10 / 299 |
2,774,061 | 13% | 10 seat; Opposition | Kwon Young-ghil |
| 2008 | 5 / 299 |
973,445 | 5.7% | 5 seat; Opposition | Chon Young-sae |
Local elections
| Election | Metropolitan mayor/Governor | Provincial legislature | Municipal mayor | Municipal legislature | Election leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 0 / 16 |
11 / 682 |
2 / 232 |
Kwon Young-ghil | |
| 2006 | 0 / 16 |
15 / 733 |
0 / 230 |
66 / 2,888 |
Moon Sung-hyeon |
| 2010 | 0 / 16 |
24 / 761 |
3 / 228 |
115 / 2,888 |
Kang Gi-gap |
See also
- Unified Progressive Party
- Politics of South Korea
- List of political parties
- List of Korea-related topics
- Kwon Young-ghil
- Social Democratic Party (Japan) - DLP interacted with major Japanese social democrats and democratic socialist politicians, including Mizuho Fukushima.[10]
References
- Kim, Sunhyuk (2007), "Civil society and democratization in Korea", Korean Society, Taylor & Francis, p. 65, ISBN 9780203966648
- Chang, Yun-Shik (2008), "Left and right in South Korean politics", Korea Confronts Globalization, Taylor & Francis, p. 176, ISBN 9780203931141
- 민주노동당 강령, 민주노동당 강령개정위원회, 2000
- Park, Mi (2008), Democracy and Social Change: A History of South Korean Student Movements, 1980-2000, Peter Lang, p. 231, ISBN 9783039110667
- Bae, Joonbum (2009), "The South Korean Left's 'Northern Question'", Korea Yearbook 2009, Brill, p. 90, ISBN 978-9004180192
- Lim, Hyun-Chin (2008), "Impacts of globalization and restructuring", Korea Confronts Globalization, Taylor & Francis, p. 161, ISBN 9780203931141
- Jeong Jae Sung (1 February 2008), "The Debate to End the DLP's Pro-North Korea Stance: the Roots of a 20-Year Conflict", Daily NK, retrieved 25 March 2012
- Jackson, Andy (27 January 2010), Happy 10th birthday Democratic Labor Party!, Asian Correspondent, retrieved 25 March 2012
- http://www.redian.org/archive/18638
- ""진보 정당 살리려면 비례대표 늘어나야"" ["To revive a progressive political party, proportional representation needs to increase".]. 시사IN (in Korean). 29 April 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
