Popular Party (South Korea) Explained
| Native Name: | 민중당 |
| Abbreviation: | PP |
| Country: | South Korea |
| Foundation: | 10 November 1990 |
| Dissolved: | 23 March 1992 |
| Position: | Centre-left to left-wing |
The Popular Party 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).[1] 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,[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 the Co-Presidents,[4] Jang Gi-pyo as the Chairman of Policy, and Lee Jae-oh as the Secretary-General.[5]
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.[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 the right-wing Democratic Liberal Party.[3] 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]
Policies
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]
1992 election manifestos
The party announced its 15 manifestos for 1992 election.[8]
- 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
Local
References
- News: 29 May 2019. ko:궁핍한 생활 견디며 진보의 한길로. http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0002540667&isPc=true. 12 September 2019.
- News: 11 November 1989. ko:진보정당 내년3월 창당 '준비모임' 기자회견. https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1989111100289101003&editNo=4&printCount=1&publishDate=1989-11-11&officeId=00028&pageNo=1&printNo=462&publishType=00010. 12 September 2019.
- News: 15 March 2009. ko:[김진 시시각각] 잘못 부러진 차명진의 팔. https://news.joins.com/article/3531141. 12 September 2019.
- News: 10 November 1990. 「민중당」 정식출범. 12 September 2019.
- News: 10 November 1990. ko:민중당 창당대회. https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1990111000329201012&editNo=3&printCount=1&publishDate=1990-11-10&officeId=00032&pageNo=1&printNo=13887&publishType=00020. 12 September 2019.
- News: 8 April 1992. ko:당해체후 진로논의 민중당. https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1992040800209202020&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1992-04-08&officeId=00020&pageNo=2&printNo=21788&publishType=00020. 12 September 2019.
- News: 22 October 1991. ko:민주당과 통합안해 민중당,총선등선 연대. https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1991102200289101003&editNo=4&printCount=1&publishDate=1991-10-22&officeId=00028&pageNo=1&printNo=1061&publishType=00010. 12 September 2019.
- News: 28 February 1992. ko:민중당 15개 총선 공약 내놔. https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1992022800289102003&editNo=4&printCount=1&publishDate=1992-02-28&officeId=00028&pageNo=2&printNo=1169&publishType=00010. 12 September 2019.
