Shinjwapa

Progressivism () in South Korea is broadly associated with social democracy, cultural progressivism and left-wing nationalism. South Korea's "progressivism" is often used in a similar sense to 'South Korean Left' or 'leftist'.

Historically, there have been communist forces, but most of them have been powerless in South Korean politics.

History

''Hyukshinkye''

South Korea's early left-wing forces were mainly divided into 'communist' and 'non-communist'.

At that time, South Korean non-communist leftists were mainly called ''Hyukshinkye'' (). At that time, it was politically repressed by both centre-right liberal and far-right ultra-conservatives. In particular, the Korean War led to a significant weakening as some of the ''Hyukshinkye'' were also driven to communism. After the forced dissolution of the Progressive Party led by Cho Bong-am in 1958, it virtually collapsed politically.

Progressive parties, including the United Socialist Party led by Kim Chul, continued the tradition of ''Hyukshinkye'', but its power was minimal, and since the 1980s, ''Hyukshinkye''s tradition has been completely cut off from power as Kim Chul and other key figures have shifted to pro-military conservative stances.

PD and NL

The United States remained silent about the massacres in Gwangju by new-military coup forces in the 1980s, and backed the Chun Doo-hwan government. This served as an opportunity for some of the democratization movement forces in South Korea to develop anti-American sentiment. As a result, some of South Korea's moderate liberal pro-democratization activists gradually accepted socialism and became more left-wing. During this period, the left-wing movement in South Korea was largely divided into Minjungminju-wing () and Minjokhaebang-wing (). After the collapse of the Cold War in the 1990s, they moderated their tendencies than in the past to form a political party named Democratic Force.

PD was a Western-style leftist party, influenced by American liberalism, social democracy and Soviet communism, while NL was a left-wing nationalist party that mixed South Korean indigenous ideas, radical reunificationism and social progressivism. PD and NL are political terms that refer to the two pillars of South Korea's progressive camp and are still frequently used today. As of now, the representative PD-affiliated progressive party is the Justice Party, and the representative NL-affiliated progressive party is the Minjung Party.

''Shinjwapa''

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, the New Left movement in Europe and the United States and postmodernist discourse became known, creating a ''Shinjwapa'' () in South Korea. They advocate youth rights, LGBT rights and feminism. Currently, South Korea's representative ''Shinjwapa'' parties include the Green Party and Basic Income Party.

Socialism in South Korea

South Korea's 'legitimate' socialist movement is considered part of South Korean progressivism. But not all progressives are socialists, so the two need to be distinguished.

Progressive parties

''Gujwapa'' (Old Left)

Communist or far-left socialist

* Workers' Party of South Korea (1946–1953; banned)
* Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front → National Democratic Front of South Korea → Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front (1969–; banned)
* Socialist Revolutionary Workers' Party → Labor Party (2016–2022; unregistered; merged)
* People's Democracy Party (2016–)

''Hyukshinkye'' (Innovation-faction)

* Preparatory Committee for National Construction → People's Party of Korea → People's Labor Party (1945–1950)
* Socialist Party (1951–1953)
* Progressive Party (1956–1958; banned)
* United Socialist Party of Korea (1961–1967; banned 1961–1966)

''Minjungminju'' (PD)

* The People's Party (1990–1992)
* People's Victory 21 → Democratic Labor Party (1997–2011)
* Youth Progressive Party → Socialist Party → Hope Socialist Party → Korea Socialist Party → Socialist Party (1998–2012)
* New Progressive Party (2008–2012)
* Unified Progressive Party (2011–2012)
* Progressive Justice Party → Justice Party (2012–) - However, there are a few ''Minjokhaebang'' and ''Shinjwapa'' factions in the Justice Party.
* Labor Party (2013–)
* Socialist Revolutionary Workers' Party → Labor Party (2016–2022; unregistered; merged)

''Minjokhaebang'' (NL)

* People's Victory 21 → Democratic Labor Party (1997–2011)
* 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..."
* People's United Party (South Korea), People's United Party (2016–2017)
* New People's Party (2017)
* Minjung Party → Progressive Party (2017–)

''Shinjwapa'' (New Left)

* Green Party Korea (2012–)
* Our Future (2017–)
* Basic Income Party (2020-)

Progressive-liberal

* Progressive Party (1956–1958)
* People's Party (1988)
* Hankyoreh Democratic Party (1988–1991)
* Popular Party (1989–1992)
* Participation Party (2010–2011)
* Unified Progressive Party (2011–2012)
* Justice Party (2012–)
:* Peace and Justice (2018)
* Basic Income Party (2020–)

Progressive media

* OhmyNews - liberal-leaning bias
* Pressian - progressive
* Voice of the People - progressive, resistance nationalism
* Yeoseong Shinmun - feminism

Progressive personalities

* Bong Joon-ho
* Ha-Joon Chang
*
* Hong Sehwa
* Hong Seok-cheon
* Jang Hye-young
* Kwon In-sook
* Lee Hyori
*
*
* Lyuh Woon-hyung
* Rhyu Si-min
* Roh Hoe-chan
* Ryu Ho-jeong
* Pak Noja
* Shin Hae-chul
* Sim Sang-jung
* Yun Hyon-seok

Major progressive parties election results of South Korea

Presidential elections

Legislative elections

Local elections

See also

* Conservatism in South Korea
* Feminism in South Korea
* Identity politics - One of the main factors in distinguishing between the liberal and progressive camps in South Korea. (Those who support identity politics are classified as progressives.)
* Left-wing nationalism (left-wing)
** ''Juchesasangpa'' (far-left)
* Liberalism in South Korea
** Progressive-liberalism
* LGBT rights in South Korea
* List of political parties in South Korea
* Socialism
** Democratic socialism (left-wing)
** Social democracy (centre-left to left-wing)
* ''Undongkwon''

Notes

References

{{South Korean political parties

Political history of South Korea
Environmentalism in South Korea
Left-wing nationalism in South Korea