This article lists political parties in South Korea.
South Korea has a weakly institutionalized multi-party system, characterized by frequent changes in party arrangements. It has sometimes been described as having characteristics of a two-party system. At least one of the many political parties has a chance of gaining power alone.
Current parties Parties represented in the National Assembly
Party Leader Ideology Politicalposition North Korea policy NationalAssembly Governors DPK Kim Min-seok Liberalism CentreThe Democratic Party of Korea is described as a centrist party by numerous sources: to PPP Jang Dong-hyeok ConservatismRight-wing populism Right-wingto far-right Against dialogue RKPShin Jang-sikProgressivismLiberalismCentre-leftPro–Sunshine Policy PP Kim Jong-hoon ProgressivismLeft-wing populism Left-wingto far-left RP Chun Ha-ram (acting) Against dialogue BIP Oh Jun-ho Universal basic income Single-issue None SDP Han Chang-min Social democracy Centre-left None
Extra-parliamentary parties Conservative parties
() Our Republican Party () () Saenuri Party (2017) () () All Citizen's Participatory Party () Korea Party () () Korean Independence Party () () Liberal Democratic Party (South Korea) () People Union () () People's Grand United Party () () () Liberal Unification Party () Freedom & Innovation Party ()
Centrist (or conservative liberal) parties () () Party for Democracy and Peace () () Popular Democratic Party () Centre Innovation Party ()
Liberal parties
() Open Democratic Party (), a recreation of the now-dissolved Open Democratic Party, which merged with the Democratic Party. Korea's Farmer and Fisherman's Party () New Future Democratic Party ()
Progressive parties
Labor Party () Justice Party () Green Party () Our Future () National Sovereignty Party()
Single-issue parties Women's Party () People's Democracy Party () (), aimed at eliminating the special privilege of sitting lawmakers not being able to be tried for crimes while serving as lawmaker. Korea Business Party () Korean Wave Union Party ()
Unknown stances, third position, or syncretic parties National Revolutionary Party () Unification Korea Party (), Samgyun-ist party, where republican and nationalist political thought merge. (), an electoral alliance party of 10 minor conservative parties. Formerly known as the Chungcheong's Future Party. (2020–2023) Taegeun (태건당), a pseudo-religious party created on the basis of the religious cult of the Dragon Empire.
Parties in formation
These parties are not legal acting political parties yet, but are in the process of gathering petition signatures to become formal political parties.
+ Party name Party leader Petitioning deadline NotesSmall Business Party소상공인당 18 March 2024 Kim Jae-heum 18 September 2024A single-issue moderate reformist party for protecting small business owners and the middle class.Nuclear Nation Party핵나라당 14 May 2024 Jeong Hui-won 14 November 2024A Hitlerite party that has submitted its attempted registration for the 8th timeEvery House Public Election's Party가가호호공명선거당 27 May 2024 Min Hyeong-wook 17 November 2024Single-issue party meant to reform the election management system.
Defunct parties
Conservative parties
Mainstream parties National Association (1946–1960) Liberal Party (1951–1970) Democratic Republican Party (1963–1980) Democratic Justice Party (1981–1990) Democratic Liberal Party → New Korea Party (1990–1997) Grand National Party → Saenuri Party → Liberty Korea Party (1997–2020) People Future Party (), a satellite party of the ruling People Power. (2024)
Minor parties Korean Resistance Party (1945–1950) Korean Women's National Party (1945-1961) Federation Korean National Independence (1947–1951) Korea National Party (1947–1958) Reconstruction Party (1963) Yusinjeonguhoe (1973-1980) Korean National Party → New Democratic Republican Party (1981–1990) United People's Party → Democratic Party (1992–1995) New Political Reform Party (1992-1994) New Korea Party (1992-1995) New Democratic Party (1994-1995) Non-partisan National Federation (1995-1997) New National Party (1997-1998) United Liberal Democrats (1995–2006) New Korea Party of Hope (2000-2001) Hanaro National Union (2002-2004) National Integration 21 (2002-2004) Korean Coalition for the Future (2002) People First Party (2005–2008) Liberty Forward Party → Advancement Unification Party (2008-2012) Let's Go! People-Centered Party (2011-2012) Great Korea Party (2012) Evergreen Korea Party (2017–2018) Grand National United Party (2017–2018) Bareun Party (2017–2018) Bareunmirae Party (2018–2020) New Conservative Party (2020) Republican Party () (2014–2020), merged with Christian Liberal Unification Party () to form National Revolutionary Party (). (2020) Free Korea 21 (2016–2021), formerly Korea Economic Party. Ahn Cheol-soo's People's Party (2020–2022), merged with the People Power. Pro-Park Coalition () (2012–2022) () (2016–2022) Liberal Party () (2020–2024) Revolution 21 () (2021–2024) Dawn of Liberty () (2019–2024) Pro-Park New Party () (2020–2024), merged with the People Power Party.
Liberal parties
Mainstream parties Korea Democratic Party → Democratic National Party (1945–1955) Democratic Party (1955–1961) Civil Rule Party (1963–1965) Democratic Party (1963–1965) People's Party → New Democratic Party (1965–1980, banned) Democratic Korea Party (1981–1988) New Korea and Democratic Party (1984–1988) Reunification Democratic Party (1987–1990) Peace Democratic Party (1987–1991) Democratic Party (1991–1995) National Congress for New Politics (1995–2000) Millennium Democratic Party → Democratic Party (2000–2008) Uri Party (2002–2007) Grand Unified Democratic New Party (2007–2008) United Democratic Party → Democratic Party (2008–2011) Democratic United Party → Democratic Party (2011–2014) Platform Party (2020), a satellite party of the Democratic Party, Basic Income Party and Transition Korea. Democratic Alliance of Korea (), a satellite party of the Democratic Party, Progressive Party and Basic Income Party. (2024)
Minor parties Democratic Party (1963–1965) Democratic Unification Party (1973–1980) Democratic Party (1990–1991) Democratic Party (1995–1997) The Participation Party (2010–2011) Citizens Unity Party (2011) New Political Vision Party (2014) Democratic Party (2014–2016) People's Party (2016–2018) Party for Democracy and Peace (2018–2020) New Alternatives (2019–2020) Alliance for Political Reform (2020) attempted satellite party, including Democratic Party, Minjung Party, Justice Party, Green Party Korea, Mirae Party and he Minsaeng Party but broke down before election. Future Democratic Party (2020) Open Democratic Party (2020–2022) Kim Dong-yeon's New Wave () (2021–2022) Transition Korea (2020–2023), merged into conservative People Power. Hope of Korea (2023–2024), merged into Lee Jun-seok's New Reform Party. Awakened Citizens Solidarity Party () K-Political Innovation Union Party () (2022–2024) New Choice () (2023-2024), merged into Lee Jun-seok's New Reform Party. Pine Tree Party (), (2024-2026) merged into Democratic Party.
Progressive parties
Preparatory Committee for National Construction → People's Party of Korea → People's Labor Party (1945–1950) Workers' Party of South Korea (1946–1953, banned) Korean Social Democratic Party (조선사회민주당, banned) Socialist Party (1951–1953) Progressive Party (1956–1958, banned) New Reform Party (1995) United Socialist Party of Korea (1961–1967, banned) Revolutionary Party for Reunification → National Democratic Front of South Korea → Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front (1969–2005, banned) Hankyoreh Democratic Party (1988–1991) People's Party (1988) Popular Party (1990–1992) Progressive Political Alliance (1997) Construction National Victory 21 (1997-1999) Democratic Labor Party (2000–2011) People's Party for Reform (2002–2004) Social Democratic Party of Korea (2002–2004) Youth Progressive Party → Socialist Party → Korea Socialist Party → Socialist Party (1998–2012) New Progressive Party (2008–2012) Solidarity for New Progressive Integration (2011) Unified Progressive Party (2011–2014, banned)Yonhap News Agency, December 19, 2014, , "...South Korea's Constitutional Court on Friday ordered the dissolution of a pro-North Korean minor opposition party..." Youth Party (2012) People's United Party (2016–2017) New People's Party (2017) Socialist Revolutionary Workers' Party, merged with Labor Party. (2016–2022) Let's Go! Peace and Human Rights Party () (2020–2024)
Green parties Green Peace Party (2002–2004) Green Social Democratic Party (2004) Korea Greens (2004–2008) Let's go! Green Party (; 2020–2024)
Unknown or syncretic parties (), pan-Korean nationalism and Cheondoism, claims to support the unification of not only the Korean Peninsula, but of lands where Koreans are located in China, Russia, and Japan as well. Merged with Chungcheong's Future Party to create . (2021–2023) (), (single-issue) merged into . (2020–2024) () (2020–2024)
Religious parties
Universal Peace and Unification Family Party () Family Party for Peace and Unity ()
Banned political movements General Association of Korean Residents in Japan "Chongryon" (총련) South Korean National Liberation Front Preparation Committee (남조선민족해방전선준비위원회)
See also List of ruling political parties by country Politics of South Korea Conservatism in South Korea Liberalism in South Korea Progressivism in South Korea
Notes
References
Bibliography The present state of registered political parties, National Election Commission of S. Korea. The present state of political parties registration, National Election Commission of S. Korea, May 29, 2008.