Bareun Party
The Bareun Party (Korean: 바른정당; Hanja: 바른政黨; RR: Bareunjeongdang; lit. Righteous Political Party) was a conservative[2][5][6] political party in South Korea, announced on 27 December 2016 with the defection of 29 anti-Park Saenuri Party lawmakers. It was known as the Conservative New Party for Reform until 8 January 2017.[7]
Bareun Party 바른정당 | |
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Leader | Yoo Seong-min |
Floor leader | Oh Sin-hwan |
Secretary General | Kim Sung-dong |
Chairman of the Policy Planning Committee | Ji Sang-wook |
Founded | 27 December 2016 (as a parliamentary group) 25 January 2017 (as a political party) |
Dissolved | 13 February 2018[1] |
Split from | Saenuri Party |
Merged into | Bareunmirae Party |
Ideology | Conservatism (South Korea)[2] Moderate conservatism |
Political position | Centre-right[3] Factions: Right-wing[2] |
Colors | Sky Blue[4] |
Party flag | |
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Website | |
bareun | |
Bareun Party | |
Hangul | 바른정당 |
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Revised Romanization | Bareunjeongdang |
McCune–Reischauer | Parŭnjŏngdang |
Conservative New Party for Reform | |
Hangul | 개혁보수신당 |
Revised Romanization | Gaehyeokbosusindang |
McCune–Reischauer | Kaehyŏkposusindang |
Part of a series on |
Conservatism in South Korea |
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History
The party was formed amidst a faction feud in the Liberty Korea Party (then Saenuri Party) involving pro and anti-Park Geun-hye forces.[8] The party began as a parliamentary negotiation body that split from the Saenuri Party in December 2016, and became a party in January 2017.[8]
Merger
In January 2018, the party's leader, along with the People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo, announced their plans to merge the two parties, in an effort to bolster the two party's parliamentary standing ahead of local elections in June.[9]
The merger faces opposition from members of both parties, citing concerns over differences in ideology and policy, particularly over differing stances on dealing with North Korea.[9] Nevertheless, the party approved the merger plans on 5 February 2018.[10] The merger is expected to be finalized on February 13.[11]
Defections
During its existence, the party suffered from a spate of defections.
2017
By April 2017, the party had already lost 14 lawmakers.[12]
In May, a week before the presidential election, 13 lawmakers affiliated with the party announced their decision to defect and return to the LKP.[12] The decision came after the party's presidential candidate, Yoo Seong-min, declined to join forces with LKP's Hong Joon-pyo and PP's Ahn Cheol-soo and field a single presidential candidate.[12] The defection left the party with just 19 seats in the National Assembly, one short of the 20 required for a political party to be recognized as a negotiating body.[12]
Ahead of a leadership contest in November 2017, an additional eight lawmakers defected, and rejoined the LKP.[13] The eight lawmakers were later joined by the party's floor leader, Joo-Ho-young.[14]
2018
On 9 January 2018, lawmaker Kim Se-yeon,[15] Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil,[16] and lawmaker Park In-sook[16] defected from the party, all of whom rejoined the LKP.[16]
Electoral results
Election | Candidate | Votes | % | Result |
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2017 | Yoo Seung-min | 2,208,771 | 6.76 | Not elected |
See also
References
- "Two minor parties merge to create new centrist party". 13 February 2018.
- "Bareun Party's rift raises talk of political realignment". The Korea Herald. Yonhap News Agency. 19 October 2017.
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- He-rim, Jo (11 February 2018). "People's Party finalizes decision to merge with Bareun Party". The Korea Herald.
- "Defectors from People's Party create new liberal party". Yonhap News Agency. 6 February 2018.
- "South Korea President Moon Jae In to meet ruling, opposition leaders over North Korea". The Straits Times. 26 September 2017.
- Papagiorcopulo, Simon (13 November 2017). "South Korea's Bareun Party to elect new leader as influence wanes". Daily Brief. Foreign Brief.
- Denney, Steven (1 March 2019). "South Korean Conservatives: What Now?". The Diplomat.
- "바른정당 당색은 '스카이블루'". 연합뉴스 (in Korean). 2017-01-15. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
- Choi Ha-young (13 February 2018). "New centrist party vows to beat two major parties". The Korea Times.
- Hong, David Sungjae (25 April 2017). "Impact Player: Yoo Seong-min". Center for Strategic and International Studies.
- Herald, The Korea (2017-01-09). "New conservative party named 'Barun Party'". Retrieved 2018-01-30.
- "Bareun Party officially launched after splitting from Saenuri". Yonhap. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- "Leaders of People's Party, Bareun Party declare merger". The Korean Herald. Herald Corporation. Yonhap. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- "Bareun Party Agrees on Proposal for Merger with People's Party". KBS World Radio. 5 February 2018. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- Choi, Ha-young (30 January 2018). "People's Party, Bareun Party to finalize merger Feb. 13". The Korea Times. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- "13 Bareun Party Lawmakers to Defect to Liberty Korea Party". KBS World Radio. 2 May 2017. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
- "Eight lawmakers to officially defect from Bareun Party". The Korea Herald. Herald Corporation. Yonhap. 8 November 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- "Bareun Party picks new floor leader, policy chief". Yonhap. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
Oh filled the void left by Joo Ho-young who bolted from the party last month to join the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP).
- "Bareun Party lawmaker decides to defect to Liberty Korea Party". Yonhap. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- Choi, Ha-young (16 January 2018). "Yet another Bareun Party lawmaker to defect to LKP". The Korea Times. Retrieved 3 February 2018.