The Reform Party (RP; ) is a South Korean political party jointly led by Lee Jun-seok, the former leader of the People Power Party (PPP). While initially founded by Lee Jun-seok as a

conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

party after his split from the PPP, it has subsequently merged with various parties and factions led by politicians formerly affiliated with the

Democratic Party of Korea Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

(DPK) and Justice Party.

History

The founding congress of the Reform Party was held on 20 January 2024. At the founding congress, the intention was emphasized to create a "third force", which would include the Reform Party, to oppose the Democratic Party and the PPP. The new party expressed its readiness to create coalitions. The party is led by former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok and the conservative Kim Yong-nam is the party's policy committee chief. On 24 January 2024, Yang Hyang-ja's Hope of Korea merged into the Reform Party ahead of the April 10 parliamentary election. On February 9, it was announced that the party, along with Future Party led by Lee Nak-yon, would merge to create the Reform Party, with the new party being led by Lee Jun-seok and Lee Nak-yon. On 20 February 2024, Lee Nak-yon and his New Future Party announced their withdrawal from the merger with the Reform Party.

Kim Jong-min Kim Jong-min (; born September 24, 1979) is a South Korean singer, dancer and television personality. He has been a member of the K-pop group Koyote since 2000 and a cast member of the variety show '' 2 Days & 1 Night'' since 2007. Kim has wo ...

, an assemblyman close to Lee, also left the party to rejoin Lee's New Future Party. In April 2025, the party rejected Hong Joon-pyo's suggestion for a merger with People Power Party, citing its opposition to the PPP's support for Yoon Suk-yeol after the 2024 martial law crisis.

Ideology

Initially, the Reform Party mainly consisted of moderate conservatives centred around Lee Jun-seok, joined by centrists formerly affiliated with the

Bareunmirae Party The Bareunmirae Party (), also known as the Bareun Mirae Party and Bareun Future Party, was a South Korean liberal-conservative political party. It was founded in 2018 by merger of the centrist liberal People's Party (South Korea, 2016), People ...

. Centre-left members of the Justice Party who refused an election alliance with the

Green Party A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as environmentalism and social justice. Green party platforms typically embrace Social democracy, social democratic economic policies and fo ...

also left the party and joined the election alliance. This includes former MP Ryu Ho-jeong. However, after consecutive mergers with other parties and factions, it has morphed into a big tent party composed of members from different backgrounds. Because its various factions were merged to form a centrist block ahead of the 2024 South Korean parliamentary elections, party members remain divided along ideological lines. The party claims to be against authoritarianism and

statism In political science, statism or etatism (from French, ''état'' 'state') is the doctrine that the political authority of the state is legitimate to some degree. This may include economic and social policy, especially in regard to taxation ...

and seeks to protect liberty.

Election results

President

Legislature

References

2024 establishments in South Korea Centre-right parties in Asia Political parties established in 2024 Conservative parties in South Korea Libertarian conservative parties People Power Party (South Korea) Political schisms Right-wing parties in Asia {{SouthKorea-party-stub