Reunification Democratic Party

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Reunification Democratic Party
통일민주당
統一民主黨
Ideology
Political positionCentre to centre-right
Colours
  •   Red (customary)
  •   Blue
Party flag
Reunification Democratic Party
Hangul
통일민주당
Hanja
Revised RomanizationTongilminjudang
McCune–ReischauerT'ongilminjudang
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The Reunification Democratic Party (

Peace Democratic Party. The party later merged with conservative Democratic Justice Party and New Democratic Republican Party in January 1990. The party members who opposed the merger formed the Democratic Party. The party had strong support in the Southeastern region of the country, including the South Gyeongsang Province and the city of Busan
.

History

The party was formed on 21 April 1987 as a split from the New Korean Democratic Party by Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung. Despite the strong gains the party achieved in the 1985 legislative election, internal conflicts grew within the party, especially on the intensity of the struggle against the dictatorship and demand for a direct, democratic election of the president. Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung took hard-line against the Chun regime, while the erstwhile party leader, Lee Min-woo took the more conciliatory tone. The issue came to fore with the revelation of "Lee Min-woo Plan" (이민우 구상) on December 24, 1986. Lee Min-woo declared his willingness to accept the constitutional revision to the parliamentary system. The plan was criticized by both Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung as a capitulation to the dictatorship, and were personally humiliated that Lee Min-woo hasn't discussed the plan with them prior. Growing discord culminated with the split of Kim Dae-jung and Kim Young-sam's follower from the New Korea Democratic Party, and formation of Reunification Democratic Party in April 1987.

Following the

Peace Democratic Party in October 29, less than 2 months before the election. Kim Dae-jung and Kim Young-sam's candidacy resulted in vote-splitting of the opposition candidates, resulting in the election of Roh Tae-woo, protégé of dictator Chun Doo-hwan
to take the office with 36.6% of votes.

In the following

first-past-the-post
electoral system resulted in the party coming third in terms of the seat number, despite winning more than 900,000 votes than the Peace Democratic Party.

Merged with the ruling party

Faced with the disappointing election results and the rising of Kim Dae-jung's Peace Democratic Party, Kim Young-sam and his followers in the party decided to accept the proposal to merge the party with the ruling Democratic Justice Party and conservative New Democratic Republican Party. The decision was heavily criticized from both inside and outside of the party, perceived as being tantamount to "treason", joining forces with the remnants of the military dictatorships of Park Chung-hee (represented by the New Democratic Republican Party) and Chun Doo-hwan (represented by the Democratic Justice Party). Kim replied to the criticism that one "has to enter the tiger's cave to catch the tiger". The party members who opposed the merger, including Roh Moo-hyun and Lee Ki-taek, formed the new Democratic Party in 1990 and later merged with Kim Dae-jung's Peace Democratic Party to form a new Democratic Party. Reunification Democratic Party was dissolved on 22 January 1990, joining the newly formed Democratic Liberal Party. Kim Young-sam later succeeded Roh's leadership in 1992 and became the next President.

Election results

President

Election Candidate Votes % Result
1987 Kim Young-sam 6,337,581 28.04 Not elected

Legislature

Election Leader Votes % Seats Position Status
Constituency Party list Total
1988 Kim Myeong-yun 4,680,175 23.83
46 / 224
13 / 75
59 / 299
 3rd Opposition

See also

References

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