| Native Name: | 민중당 |
| Abbreviation: | PP |
| Country: | South Korea |
| Foundation: | 10 November 1990 |
| Dissolved: | 23 March 1992 |
| Position: | Centre-left to left-wing |
The Popular Party (Korean: 민중당|Minjungdang) was a left-wing political party of South Korea from 1989 to 1992.
A part of socialist movements in the late 1980s, the party was formed by the former members of the Hankyoreh Democratic Party (HDP) and the Party of the People (PotP).[1] The HDP, which was originally formed in 1988, lost its sole elected representative, Park Hyung-oh, and kept declining. The PotP was also in difficulties with its minority status. This environment stimulated the pan-alliance of left-wings.
The party was founded on 10 November 1989 with its unofficial name, Preparation Group for the Establishment of Progressive Popular Party (Korean: 진보적 대중정당 건설을 위한 준비모임),[2] [3] and officially formed on 10 November 1990 as Popular Party.[4] [5] That day, they also elected Lee Woo-jae as its Permanent President, Kim Sang-ki and Kim Nak-joong as the Co-Presidents,[4] Jang Gi-pyo as the Chairman of Policy, and Lee Jae-oh as the Secretary-General.[5]
During the 1991 local elections, 42 candidates ran under the PP banner but only 1 (Sung Hui-jik) was elected. In the 1992 election, 51 were running, and no one was elected.[3] [1] The party was immediately deregistered under the electoral law.[6]
Many of members changed their ideology to right.[3] Notable figures i.e. Kim Moon-soo, Lee Jae-oh,[1] and Cha Myong-jin, later joined the right-wing Democratic Liberal Party.[3] Lee Woo-jae, who was also one of them, later joined Uri Party, but subsequently retired. Only few members including Roh Hoe-chan, remained as left.[1]
The party advocated planned economy, and sought for the nationalisation of industries, financial institutions, natural resources, and land.[5] It also supported the labour policies of Swedish Social Democratic Party.[5]
The party refused to merge with Democratic Party, although they considered about electoral alliances.[7]
The party announced its 15 manifestos for 1992 election.[8]