Saenuri Party

Saenuri Party The Saenuri Party was a major conservative political party in South Korea that operated under that name from 2012 to 2017. It succeeded the Grand National Party (South Korea) and preceded the Liberty Korea Party, competing with Democratic United Party successors such as the Democratic Party of Korea and interacting with institutions like the National Assembly (South Korea), the Blue House, and the Constitutional Court of Korea. The party played central roles in events including the 2012 South Korean presidential election, the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking, and the 2016–2017 Impeachment of Park Geun-hye.

History

The party emerged from the legacy of the Grand National Party (South Korea) after internal rebranding following losses to the Uri Party and later the Minjoo Party-aligned factions. Key moments included support for Park Geun-hye in the 2012 South Korean presidential election, parliamentary victories in the 2012 South Korean legislative election, and governance during crises such as the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking which prompted scrutiny from the Prosecutor's Office (South Korea), the National Police Agency (South Korea), and civic groups including Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice. The party's majority in the 19th National Assembly of South Korea faced erosion after the 2016 South Korean legislative election produced a hung assembly and precipitated the 2016–2017 protests at locations like Gwanghwamun Plaza and mass demonstrations organized by groups such as Korea Teachers and Education Workers Union sympathizers and conservative counter-demonstrators. The scandal culminating in the Impeachment of Park Geun-hye involved connections to the Choi Soon-sil scandal, the National Intelligence Service (South Korea), and figures investigated by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, leading the party to reconstitute as the Bareun Party and later the Liberty Korea Party and allied with the People Power Party (South Korea) lineage.

Ideology and policies

The party advocated policies associated with conservative blocs like the Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)'s allies and the Republican Party (United States)'s economic platforms, emphasizing market-oriented reforms inspired by proponents such as Park Chung-hee and reformers connected to the Korea Economic Research Institute. It supported closer security cooperation with the United States Armed Forces Korea and defense posture aligned with responses to the North Korea nuclear program and incidents involving the Korean People's Army. Fiscal stances favored deregulation advocated by institutions such as the Korea Development Institute and alliances with business federations like the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Social policy positions contrasted with those of groups like People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and often intersected with debates involving the National Human Rights Commission of Korea and labor disputes featuring the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.

Organization and leadership

Leadership featured prominent figures including Park Geun-hye as presidential candidate and later party leader, parliamentary leaders who served in the National Assembly (South Korea), and party secretaries coordinating with ministries like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (South Korea) and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance. Regional operations engaged provincial chapters across provinces such as Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and metropolitan organizations in Seoul, Busan, and Incheon. Factions within the party included conservatives aligned with the legacy of Park Chung-hee, reform conservatives sympathetic to figures such as Lee Myung-bak, and pragmatic moderates who negotiated with centrist forces represented by the Bareunmirae Party and the People Party (South Korea) during coalition discussions. Party organs interfaced with electoral commissions like the National Election Commission (South Korea) and legal oversight from the Supreme Court of Korea and the Constitutional Court of Korea.

Electoral performance

The party’s electoral record included victory in the 2012 South Korean legislative election which consolidated its position and facilitated Park Geun-hye's success in the 2012 South Korean presidential election. Subsequent contests such as the 2014 South Korean local elections and the 2016 South Korean legislative election saw fluctuating results influenced by public reaction to events like the Sewol ferry sinking and revelations from the Choi Soon-sil scandal. By-elections and regional contests in places like Daegu, Ulsan, Daejeon, and Gwangju reflected the party’s variable regional strengths and competition with the Democratic Party of Korea and minor parties including the Justice Party (South Korea) and the Progressive Party (South Korea, 2017).

Controversies and scandals

Controversies involved alleged influence peddling tied to Choi Soon-sil, investigations by the Special Prosecutor's Office (South Korea) and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and accusations of collusion with the National Intelligence Service (South Korea) in domestic politics. The party faced criticism for its handling of the Sewol ferry sinking response, legal disputes adjudicated by the Seoul Administrative Court, and internal factional disputes that led to defections forming parties like the Bareun Party. High-profile legal outcomes included the impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court of Korea and subsequent criminal prosecutions overseen by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the Republic of Korea.

Category:Conservative parties in South Korea Category:Political parties established in 2012