The People's Democracy Party (Korean: 민중민주당) is a political party in South Korea that advocates the establishment of a people's democracy, in which the proletariat owns the productive forces. The party has taken various anti-imperialist and anti-militarist positions, including the end of conscription in South Korea, the withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea, and the negotiation of a peace agreement with North Korea.
People's Democracy Party 민중민주당 | |
|---|---|
_logo.png){kind=logo} | |
| Leader | Lee Sang-hoon |
| Founded | 5 November 2016 |
| Headquarters | #1107 Le Meilleur Jongno Town, 19 Jongno, Jogno 1-ga Jongno-gu, Seoul |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Far-left |
| International affiliation | World Anti-Imperialist Platform |
| National Assembly | 0 / 300 |
| Website | |
| pdp21 | |
| People's Democracy Party | |
| Hangul | 민중민주당 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 民衆民主黨 |
| Revised Romanization | Minjungminjudang |
| McCune–Reischauer | Minjungminjudang |
| Abbreviation | |
| Hangul | 민중당 |
| Hanja | 民衆黨 |
| Revised Romanization | Minjungdang |
| McCune–Reischauer | Minjungdang |
History
editThe Founding Preparatory Committee of the Hwansu Welfare Party (환수복지당) was formed on 12 July 2016[1] and it held a press conference on 18 July.[2] The inauguration ceremony of the Hwansu Welfare Party was subsequently held on 5 November 2016,[3] and the party registered with the National Election Commission (NEC) on 21 November.[4]
The Hwansu Welfare Party merged with organizations affiliated with the National Liberation and People's Democracy political camps on 15 August 2017. The party subsequently renamed itself to the People's Democracy Party-Hwansu Welfare Party (민중민주당-환수복지당), later shortened to the "People's Democracy Party".
Ideology and policies
editThe People's Democracy Party aims to establish a people's democracy in South Korea, in which workers, farmers, and small merchants (i.e. the proletariat and petite bourgeoisie) are the owners of the productive forces.[5] The party program calls for free housing, education, and medical care, as well as an end to conscription in South Korea.[6] The party has been described as far-left in South Korean media.[7]
Foreign policy
editThe party is opposed to the U.S. military presence in Asia, advocating for the departure of the United States Forces Korea and the suspension of "Foal Eagle" exercises between the U.S. and South Korea.[7] The party has stated that "South Corea [sic] is a complete colony occupied by the U.S. military, is politically oppressed by the U.S., and is economically subordinate to imperialist countries, including the U.S.," and therefore "True peace is possible only without imperialism; the head of imperialism is the U.S."[8] The party has also expressed opposition to the current government of Japan, calling it "militaristic" and "imperialist".[9] The party advocates engagement with North Korea and has called for an end to the Korean conflict through an immediate inter-Korean peace deal.[10] The party also advocates the reunification of Korea under a federal system, and opposes "reunification by absorption" (as West Germany had done with East Germany) or reunification through war. The party supports a "collective security system" in East Asia, with ultimate goal of peace in all of Asia.[6]
The party is a member of the World Anti-Imperialist Platform.[11] The party supports the Russian invasion of Ukraine, echoing the Russian government's claims of it being a campaign of "de-Nazification". The party has accused the U.S. and NATO of supporting "neo-Nazis" and "Banderites" in Ukraine to threaten Russia.[12][13]
Election results
editLegislative elections
edit| Election | Constituency votes | Share of votes | Seats won | +/− | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 63 | 0.00% | 0 / 300
|
No seats | |
| 2024 | 290 | 0.00% | 0 / 300
|
|
No seats |
References
edit- ^ Lee, Jae Chul (31 December 2017). "Political Protest from 2016 to 2017 in Korea : Analysis of Citizens in Metropolitan Areas". The Journal of Social Science. 24 (4): 61–82. doi:10.46415/jss.2017.12.24.4.61. ISSN 1598-8996.
- ^ "'환수복지당' 18일 창당준비위 출범 - 통일뉴스". www.tongilnews.com (in Korean). 18 July 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ "Solidarity statement to the People's Democracy Party inauguration". 14 November 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ Ahn, Bo-Young; Chun, Young-Sin (31 August 2011). "The Characteristics Asian Dust Observed in Japan Deflecting the Korean Peninsula (2010. 5. 22.-5. 25.)". Journal of the Korean Earth Science Society. 32 (4): 388–401. doi:10.5467/jkess.2011.32.4.388. ISSN 1225-6692.
- ^ "하나의 이념과 두개의 주의". 민중민주당(민중당) (in Korean). 23 August 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
- ^ a b "7대 강령". People's Democracy Party (in Korean). 9 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ a b "극좌단체 美 백악관 앞서 "미 본토까지 불바다" 미군 철수 시위 '논란' - 블루투데이".
- ^ People's, Democracy Party (25 June 2020). "70 years too long: The struggle to end the Korean War". Liberation School. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
- ^ "〈일본패망하루전〉 반드시 망한다". 민중민주당. 10 November 2020. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023.
- ^ "이땅을 전쟁연습 없는 평화지대로 만들자". 26 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "Paris Declaration: The rising tide of global war and the tasks of anti-imperialists". World Anti-Imperialist Platform. 14 October 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ "우크라이나나치즘의 형성과 러시아반나치군사작전의 전개". 민중민주당. 1 June 2022. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023.
- ^ "〈증오(Wołyń)〉 끝장내야한다". 민중민주당. 1 June 2022. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023.
External links
edit- Official website (in Korean)