| People's Democracy Party | |
| Native Name Lang: | ko |
| Leader: | Lee Sang-hoon |
| International: | World Anti-Imperialist Platform[1] |
| Headquarters: | 1107 Le Meilleur Jongno Town, 19 Jongno, Jogno 1-ga Jongno-gu, Seoul |
| Position: | Far-left[2] |
| Seats1 Title: | National Assembly |
| Country: | South Korea |
| Hangul: | 민중민주당 |
| Hanja: | 民衆民主黨 |
| Rr: | Minjungminjudang |
| Mr: | Minjungminjudang |
| Othername1: | Abbreviation |
| Hangul1: | 민중당 |
| Hanja1: | 民衆黨 |
| Rr1: | Minjungdang |
| Mr1: | Minjungdang |
The People's Democracy Party is a communist party in South Korea which aims to establish a people's democracy, in which the proletariat owns the productive forces. The party is staunchly anti-imperialist and has called for an immediate peace agreement with North Korea and the complete withdrawal of foreign troops from South Korea.
The Founding Preparatory Committee of the Hwansu Welfare Party (Korean: 환수복지당) was formed on 12 July 2016[3] and it held a press conference on 18 July.[4] The inauguration ceremony of the Hwansu Welfare Party was subsequently held on 5 November 2016,[5] and the party registered with the National Election Commission (NEC) on 21 November.[6]
The Hwansu Welfare Party merged with organizations affiliated with the National Liberation and People's Democracy political camps on 15 August 2017. The party subsequently renamed itself to the People's Democracy Party-Hwansu Welfare Party (Korean: 민중민주당-환수복지당), later shortened to the "People's Democracy Party".
The People's Democracy Party is a communist party which aims to establish a people's democracy in South Korea, in which workers, farmers, and small merchants (i.e. the proletariat and petite bourgeoisie) are the owners of the productive forces. However, since the National Security Act outlaws communist parties, the PDP does not explicitly support "communism" (공산주의), but instead uses the indirect expression "communalism" (공동주의).[7] The party program also calls for free housing, education, and medical care, as well as an end to conscription in South Korea.[8]
See main article: Anti-American sentiment in Korea and Anti-Japanese sentiment in Korea.
The party is strongly anti-American, advocating for the departure of the United States Forces Korea and suspension of "Foal Eagle" exercises between the U.S. and South Korea. The party has stated that "South is a complete colony occupied by the U.S. military, is politically oppressed by the U.S., and is economically subordinate to imperialist countries, including the U.S.," and therefore "True peace is possible only without imperialism; the head of imperialism is the U.S."[9]
The party strongly advocates engagement with North Korea, and has called for an immediate end to the Korean conflict by striking a peace deal.[10] It advocates an eventual reunification under a federal system, and opposes reunification by "absorption" or through war. It also advocates for a "collective security system" in East Asia.
The party has also expressed opposition to the current government of Japan, calling it "militaristic" and "imperialist".[11] The People's Democracy Party officially supported Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, calling it "de-Nazification", accusing the U.S. and NATO of supporting "neo-Nazis" and "Banderites" in Ukraine to threaten Russia.[12] [13]
| Election | Constituency votes | Share of votes | Seats won | +/− | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 63 | 0.00% | ||||
| 2024 | 290 | 0.00% |