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| Political parties in South Korea | |
|---|---|
| Name | South Korea |
| Native name | 대한민국 |
| Type | Unitary presidential constitutional republic |
| Capital | Seoul |
| Largest city | Seoul |
| Official languages | Korean |
| Government | Politics of the Republic of Korea |
| Legislature | National Assembly |
| Leader title | President |
Political parties in South Korea Political parties in South Korea shape competition among figures such as Moon Jae-in, Yoon Suk-yeol, Kim Dae-jung, Park Geun-hye, and institutions such as the National Assembly, Blue House, and Supreme Court. Parties interact with events like the June Struggle, the Gwangju Uprising, the Sunshine Policy, the Asian Financial Crisis, and institutions including the Constitution, National Election Commission, and the Constitutional Court.
South Korea’s party system features national formations such as the People Power Party, the Democratic Party of Korea, and historical actors like the Grand National Party, the Uri Party, the Bareun Party, and the Liberty Korea Party. The system operates within frameworks established after the June Struggle and the 1987 constitutional amendment, reflecting legacies of leaders like Syngman Rhee, Park Chung-hee, Chun Doo-hwan, and Roh Moo-hyun. Electoral outcomes are determined by mechanisms overseen by the National Election Commission and influenced by media outlets such as KBS, MBC, and Yonhap News Agency.
From liberation in 1945 and the Korean War through authoritarian eras under Syngman Rhee and Park Chung-hee, party alignments included the Democratic Republican Party and the New Democratic Party. The 1987 democratization linked movements like the June Democratic Struggle and the Gwangju Uprising to new parties including the Reunification Democratic Party and later the Millennium Democratic Party and Grand National Party. The Sunshine Policy period under Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun produced the Millennium Democratic Party and Uri Party, while conservative consolidation produced the Saenuri Party and successor formations culminating in the People Power Party. Corruption scandals involving Park Geun-hye and impeachment proceedings by the National Assembly reshaped alignments, implicating institutions such as the Prosecutors' Office of South Korea and prompting movements led by figures like Moon Jae-in.
Major contemporary parties include the center-right People Power Party led by figures such as Yoon Suk-yeol and the center-left Democratic Party of Korea associated with Moon Jae-in. Other notable organizations with parliamentary or regional presence include the Justice Party, the People Party, and splinter groups from the Bareunmirae Party era. Coalitions form around policy debates involving the Ministry of Unification, the Ministry of National Defense, and responses to relations with North Korea.
South Korea uses a mixed-member electoral system combining single-member districts and proportional representation for the National Assembly. The National Election Commission enforces campaign finance rules, registration, and ballot access, guided by the Political Parties Act and the Public Official Election Act. Thresholds for proportional seats, rules on candidate nomination, and sanctions for violations involve institutions such as the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. By-elections and local elections for offices like Mayor of Seoul and provincial governors reflect these rules.
Parties in South Korea articulate positions on inter-Korean relations referencing the Sunshine Policy, sanctions regimes tied to UN Security Council resolutions, and engagement with actors like Kim Jong-un. Economic policy debates involve responses to crises such as the Asian Financial Crisis and institutions like the Bank of Korea and policies under Ministry of Economy and Finance. Social policy disputes touch on labor issues involving Korean trade unions, welfare programs under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and education reforms referencing the Korean Council for University Education. Security stances engage with alliances such as the Korea–United States alliance and dialogues with China and Japan.
Party organization ranges from centralized leadership councils exemplified by the Democratic Party of Korea to federated structures in parties like the Justice Party. Funding sources include state subsidies under the Political Parties Act, donations regulated by the National Election Commission, and controversies investigated by bodies such as the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (South Korea). Internal elections, nomination primaries, and factional disputes feature personalities like Lee Myung-bak, Chung Sye-kyun, Ahn Cheol-soo, and Sim Sang-jung.
Voting patterns show strong regionalism with divides between Gyeongsang Province, Jeolla Province, Gangwon Province, and the Seoul Capital Area, affecting parties like the People Power Party and the Democratic Party of Korea. Demographic cleavages include age cohorts (youth activism linked to the Candlelight protests), gender politics influenced by movements such as #MeToo in South Korea, and urban–rural distinctions in cities like Busan and Daegu.
Minor and fringe parties include the Liberty Forward Party, New Progressive Party, various iterations of the Green Party Korea, sovereigntist groups, and civic organizations that contest seats or shape agendas through alliances with parties like the Justice Party or regional blocs. Single-issue movements and candidates draw from networks including the Korean Bar Association, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, and student groups from institutions such as Seoul National University.
Category:Politics of South Korea Category:Political parties by country