Democratic Party (South Korea, 2008)

The Democratic Party (Korean: 민주당; Hanja: 民主黨; RR: Minjudang; MR: Minjutang; DP) was a liberal political party in South Korea. Formerly named United Democratic Party (Korean: 통합민주당; Hanja: 統合民主黨; RR: Tonghapminjudang; UDP), it was the main opposition party in the 18th Assembly. In late 2011, it merged into the Democratic United Party.

Democratic Party
민주당
民主黨
Founded
Dissolved15 December 2011
Merger of
Merged intoDemocratic United Party
Headquarters15-16 Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
IdeologyLiberalism (South Korean)
Political positionCentre to centre-left
Colours
  •   Green[lower-alpha 1]
  •   Green[lower-alpha 2]
Website
minjoo.kr (Korean)
englishdp.tistory.com (English)
Democratic Party
Hangul
민주당
Hanja
Revised RomanizationMinjudang
McCune–ReischauerMinjutang
United Democratic Party
Hangul
통합민주당
Hanja
Revised RomanizationTonghapminjudang
McCune–ReischauerT'onghapminjutang
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History
Logo of the United Democratic Party

The party was originally formed as the Uri Party (Yeollin Uri-dang) when loyalists to president Roh Moo-hyun in the Millennium Democratic Party chose to break ranks from other party members who showed lukewarm support for the administration. Some 42 out of 103 lawmakers of the Millennium Democratic Party joined the new party, and 5 lawmakers from the Grand National Party also joined, seeking to complete political reforms. As a result of the 2004 Parliamentary election, the party won an outright majority in the National Assembly by winning 152 of 299 seats. It was the first time in over 40 years that a centre-left party had won a majority in the legislature.

On 18 August 2007, the delegates of the Uri Party decided to disband the party and merge with the newly created liberal party Grand Unified Democratic New Party (Korean: 대통합민주신당; Hanja: 大統合民主新黨; RR: Daetonghapminjusindang; MR: Taet'onghapminjusindang). After a year, the Grand Unified Democratic New Party merged with the Democratic Party on 17 February 2008, to form the United Democratic Party (Tonghapminjudang).[1][2] In July 2008, the party changed its name to the Democratic Party.

In local elections 2010, the Democratic Party scored a victory in eight mayoral and gubernatorial posts, including the Inchon mayorship.[3]

On 16 December 2011, the DP merged with the minor Citizens Unity Party to form the Democratic United Party. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions also participated in the forming.[4][5]

Presidents of DP
  1. Son Hak-Gyu & Park Sang-Chun (17 February 2008 – 29 May 2008)
  2. Chung Se-kyun (30 May 2008 – 3 October 2010)
  3. Son Hak-gyu (3 October 2010 – Incumbent)

Election results
Election Leader Constituency Party list Seats Position Status
Votes  % Seats Votes  % Seats
2008 Son Hak-gyu 4,977,508 28.92
66 / 245
 4,313,645 25.18
15 / 54
81 / 299
 2nd Opposition

Notes
  1. as the United Democratic Party
  2. as the Democratic Party

References
  1. Uri Disbands to Merge With Liberal Party, The Korea Times, Retrieved on 19 August 2007
  2. 통합민주당 공식 출범, The Hankyoreh. Retrieved on 5 March 2008.
  3. Opposition Party Wins S. Korea’s Local Elections
  4. Min-uck, Chung (16 December 2011), "Liberal camp launches new party", The Korea Times, archived from the original on 3 March 2014, retrieved 10 January 2012
  5. Son, Won-je (17 December 2011). "The United Democratic Party officially launched". The Hankyoreh. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
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