Democratic Party (South Korea, 1991)

The Democratic Party (Korean: 민주당; Hanja: 民主黨; RR: Minjudang; DP) was a political party of South Korea from 1991 to 1995.

Democratic Party
민주당
民主黨
AbbreviationDP
PresidentKim Dae-jung (1991-1992)
Founded16 September 1991
Dissolved21 December 1995
Merger of
Merged intoUnited Democratic
Ideology
Political positionCentre to centre-left
Colours
  •   Red
  •   Green

History

The party was formed by the merger of New Democratic Unionist Party (NDUP) of Kim Dae-jung, and Democratic Party of Lee Ki-taek (aka Little Democrats), as a part of the opposition union. During that time, NDUP, the main opposition, faced a difficulties after they lost in 1991 local elections. Little Democratic Party, a splinter group formed by the dissidents of Kim Young-sam's United Democratic Party, was struggling with its few seats.

On 16 September 1991, both parties declared to be combined and re-founded as Democratic Party.[1] Both Kim Dae-jung (DJ; Chairman of NDUP) and Lee Ki-taek (KT; Chairman of Little Democrats), was elected as the Co-Presidents of the new party.[1]

Prior to the presidential election in 1992, DJ defeated Lee and elected as the party's presidential candidate. He was widely criticised for calling rural voters as "pro-Democratic Liberal Party (DLP; the then ruling party)" and/or "pro-Roh Tae-woo",[2] and lost to DLP's Kim Young-sam. DJ subsequently resigned his party presidency and retired from the politics.[3] KT then solely elected as the new president on 11 March 1993.[4]

The party then absorbed New Korea Party of Lee Jong-chan in the early 1995,[5] and won the local elections in 1995.[6] However, shortly after, DJ officially returned to politics, and conflicts were sparked.[7] The party's pro-DJ factions, not excluding DJ himself, left and founded a new party, named National Congress for New Politics (NCNP).[8] On 21 December, the party merged with New Party for Reform, and re-built as United Democratic Party, who then became one of the predecessor of the incumbent Liberty Korea Party.

Leadership

Party Presidents

No.President(s)Period
116 September 1991 – 11 March 1993[lower-alpha 1]
2Lee Ki-taek11 March 1993 – 28 August 1995
3
  • Hong Young-ki
  • Park Il
29 August 1995 – 14 December 1995
  1. Kim Dae-jung resigned on 18 December 1992 due to the election defeats.

Election results

President

Election Candidate Votes  % Result
1992 Kim Dae-jung 8,041,284 29.17 Not elected

Legislature

Election Leader Votes  % Seats Position Status
Constituency Party list Total
1992 6,004,578 29.2
75 / 237
22 / 62
97 / 299
2nd Opposition

Local

Election Leader Metropolitan mayor/Governor Provincial legislature Municipal mayor
1995 Lee Ki-taek
4 / 15
390 / 970
84 / 230

References

  1. "민주당 공식출범". 16 September 1991. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  2. "후보가 유세장서 「유권자 비판」". 5 December 1992. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  3. "김대중씨 "정계은퇴 선언" 안팎". 19 December 1992. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  4. "민주당 새대표 이기택씨". 12 March 1993. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  5. "민주, 새한국당—재야 통합 전당대회". 25 February 1995. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  6. "부산 文正秀 경남 金爀珪씨 당선". 28 June 1995. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  7. "민주, 새한국당—재야 통합 전당대회". 18 July 1995. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  8. "새정치국민회의 창당…제1야당 출범 김대통령에 회담 제의". 6 September 1995. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.