Democratic Party (South Korea, 1955)

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Democratic Party
민주당
民主黨
AbbreviationDP
Founded18 September 1955
Dissolved1963
Preceded byDemocratic Nationalist
Succeeded byPeople's
HeadquartersSeoul, South Korea
Ideology
Political positionCentre-right
Colors  Blue
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The Democratic Party (Korean: 민주당; Hanja: 民主黨; RR: Minjudang, DP) was a political party in South Korea.[1] The party was the first truly organized liberal opposition against Syngman Rhee's conservative Liberal Party, and is considered as the predecessor to the lineage of the South Korean liberal parties.

History

The Democratic Party was established on 18 September 1955. It had its background in a 1952 move by the Democratic Nationalist Party to create a pro-reform movement that included both party members and outside figures. Although not initially successful in overcoming the party's poor public image, controversy over a constitutional amendment vote towards the end of 1954 led to the formation of a 60-member bloc in Parliament that became the Democratic Party.[2] Several prominent conservatives joined the party, resulting in the party refusing to admit left-wing politicians.[2]

The party did not nominate a presidential candidate in the 1956 elections, but put forward Chang Myon as its vice-presidential candidate. Chang was elected with 46.4% of the vote. Public attitude turning against the rule of Syngman Rhee and the Liberal Party led to increased tensions, and Chang survived an assassination attempt in 1957.[2]

In the

Senate
.

Despite gaining power, the party descended into infighting between the new and old factions; a compromise resulted in the new faction's Chang being elected Prime Minister and

Yun Posun of the old faction being elected President in an indirect election in August.[2]
However, the internal tensions eventually resulted in the old faction breaking away to form a separate party.

However, after less than a year in power, the DP government was overthrown in the May 16 coup and the party ceased activities. However, when democracy was nominally reintroduced in 1963, the party was reconstituted.[2] In the 1963 parliamentary elections it won 13 seats, and the following year merged with the People's Party.[2]

Election results

President

Election Candidate Votes % Result
August 1960 Yun Po-sun 208 82.21 Elected

Vice President

Election Candidate Votes % Result
1956 Chang Myon 4,012,654 46.43 Elected
March 1960 1,843,758 17.51 Not elected

Legislature

House of Representatives

Election Leader Votes % Seats Position Status
Constituency Party list Total +/–
1958 Chang Myon 2,914,049 33.99
79 / 233
 new 2nd Opposition
1960 3,786,304 41.71
175 / 233
 Increase 96 1st Government
1963 Park Soon-cheon 1,264,285 13.6
8 / 131
5 / 44
13 / 175
 Decrease 163 3rd Opposition

House of Councillors

Election Leader Votes % Seats Position Status
1960 Chang Myon 5,491,527 51.41
31 / 58
 1st Government

References

  1. OCLC 48585734.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link
    )
  2. ^ a b c d e f Haruhiro Fukui (1985) Political parties of Asia and the Pacific, Greenwood Press, pp667–668
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