Democratic Party of Korea
Overview
The Democratic Party of Korea (더불어민주당, also known as the Minjoo Party) is a progressive and reformist political party in South Korea, founded on March 26, 2014. It changed its name from the New Politics Alliance for Democracy in December 2015 and reached its current form. It served as the ruling party during the Moon Jae-in administration (2017–2022). Currently, as the main opposition party, it plays a role in checking the Yoon Suk Yeol government and offering an alternative. The party's ideological foundation is based on democracy, social equality, a welfare state, and peaceful unification, forming one axis of the two-party system in Korean politics, opposing the conservative People Power Party.
Main Content
Founding Background and History
The predecessor of the Democratic Party of Korea was the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, founded in March 2014 through the merger of the Democratic Party and the New Political Union. In December 2015, the party changed its name to the Democratic Party of Korea and reorganized. This was a strategy to redefine the party's identity after the 2012 presidential election defeat and to build a unified image ahead of the 2016 general election and the 2017 presidential election. The founding process was led by figures like Kim Han-gil and Ahn Cheol-soo, but later, the pro-Moon Jae-in faction seized control of the party and established its current direction.
Major Policies and Ideology
The Democratic Party of Korea prioritizes protecting the socially disadvantaged, economic democratization, welfare expansion, and inter-Korean dialogue and peace-building. Key policies include: △ Income-led growth (minimum wage increases, expansion of public jobs) △ Strengthened real estate regulations (three rental housing laws, increased comprehensive real estate tax) △ Nuclear phase-out and transition to renewable energy △ Prosecution reform (establishment of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials) △ Korean Peninsula peace process (Panmunjom Declaration, mediation of the North Korea-U.S. summit). Notably, during the Moon Jae-in administration, it led achievements in COVID-19 quarantine and discussions on basic income, pioneering policy experiments in the progressive camp.
Organization and Internal Factions
The Democratic Party of Korea traditionally consists of various factions, including the pro-Moon (친문) faction, non-Moon (비문) faction, Honam (호남) faction, and those from the 586 movement generation. The pro-Moon faction is the mainstream, inheriting former President Moon Jae-in's governing philosophy and controlling the party. The non-Moon faction is divided into the 'pro-Lee' (친명) faction centered around leader Lee Jae-myung and the 'pro-Roh' (친노) faction active in the Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in administrations. Recently, internal conflicts have surfaced regarding leader Lee Jae-myung's legal risks. The party's highest decision-making bodies are the National Convention and the Supreme Council, with the central party office located in Yeouido, Seoul.
Electoral Performance and Key Figures
The Democratic Party of Korea won 123 seats in the 20th general election in 2016, becoming the first party, and became the ruling party when candidate Moon Jae-in won the 19th presidential election in 2017. In the 21st general election in 2020, it secured an overwhelming majority of 180 seats, establishing itself as a 'super ruling party.' However, in the 20th presidential election in 2022, candidate Lee Jae-myung lost to Yoon Suk Yeol by a margin of 0.73 percentage points, falling back to opposition status. Key figures include former President Moon Jae-in, leader Lee Jae-myung, former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, former leader Lee Hae-chan, and former National Intelligence Service Director Park Jie-won.
Criticism and Controversies
The Democratic Party of Korea faced criticism during its time in power for: △ Failed real estate policies (soaring housing prices) △ The Cho Kuk scandal (controversy over the appointment of the Minister of Justice) △ Abuse of power in the prosecution reform process △ Limitations of income-led growth (rising youth unemployment). Additionally, leader Lee Jae-myung's legal risks, including allegations of preferential treatment in the Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong development projects and the Seongnam FC sponsorship case, are hindering the party. Concerns about internal factional strife and a 'pro-Lee' one-person leadership system are also continuously raised.
Latest Trends
In the 22nd general election in April 2024, the Democratic Party of Korea won a landslide victory, securing 175 seats (including satellite parties). This is analyzed as a mid-term evaluation of the Yoon Suk Yeol government's administration, with the 'regime judgment' narrative resonating with voters. Leader Lee Jae-myung strengthened his position within the party after the general election victory, but faced a political crisis in November 2024 when he was sentenced to two years in prison in the first trial of the Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong cases. The party denounced this as 'political oppression,' and as of February 2025, the appeal trial is ongoing. Additionally, in early 2025, discussions within the party are active regarding an 'early national convention' for Lee Jae-myung's potential presidential bid, with plans to amend the party constitution to advance the timeline for selecting the presidential candidate. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Korea strongly opposes the Yoon Suk Yeol government's policies on medical school quota expansion, improving South Korea-Japan relations, and attempts to control broadcasting, leading large-scale candlelight rallies for 'Yoon Suk Yeol's resignation' since January 2025. As of February 2025, the party's approval rating remains in the early 40% range, leading the People Power Party (mid-30%) outside the margin of error. However, if Lee Jae-myung's legal risks become prolonged, it is expected to become a major variable for the party's future.
Related Topics
- [[Moon Jae-in]]
- [[Lee Jae-myung]]
- [[People Power Party]]
- [[Political parties in South Korea]]
- [[2022 South Korean presidential election]]
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