Korean Social Democratic Party facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Korean Social Democratic Party
조선사회민주당
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| Chairman | Kim Ho-chol |
| Vice-Chairman | Ri Kum-chol |
| Founder | Cho Man-sik |
| Founded | 3 November 1945 |
| Headquarters | Pyongyang |
| Newspaper |
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| Membership | 30,000+ (2007 est.) |
| Ideology | Social democracy (de jure) |
| National affiliation | Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea (1949–2024) |
| Slogan | "Independence, sovereignty, democracy, peace and the defence of human rights" |
| Supreme People's Assembly |
50 / 687
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| Party flag | |
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| Korean Social Democratic Party | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | |
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| Hancha | |
| Revised Romanization | Joseon Sahoe Minjudang |
| McCune–Reischauer | Chosŏn Sahoe Minjudang |
The Korean Social Democratic Party (KSDP) is a political party in North Korea. It works closely with the main ruling party, the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). The party started on November 3, 1945. It was first called the Korean Democratic Party.
It was founded by a mix of people. These included business owners, traders, craftspeople, farmers, and Christians. The party's first goal was to remove the last parts of Japanese rule. They also wanted to build a new, fair society. Over time, the party came under the strong influence of the ruling government. Today, the Workers' Party of Korea largely controls it.
Contents
History of the Party
The party began in Pyongyang on November 3, 1945. Its founder was Cho Man-sik. It quickly gained many supporters. These included Christian business people and thinkers. Well-off workers also joined. Within a few weeks, it had about half a million members.
Cho Man-sik did not agree with a plan made in December 1945. This plan suggested that the Soviet Union, the UK, and the US would jointly oversee Korea. This idea caused many protests. The party officially voted against this plan in January 1946. Cho Man-sik then left his leadership role.
Soon after, Soviet authorities arrested Cho Man-sik. Many party leaders then moved to Seoul in South Korea. They set up a new office there. In North Korea, the party held its first big meeting in February 1946. At this meeting, Choe Yong-gon was chosen as the new leader.
The party then joined the Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea. This meant it became part of the larger communist movement. The party held its second meeting in April 1947. It continued to support the changes happening in North Korea. It also adopted a structure very similar to the Workers' Party of North Korea.
Even though it was controlled more by the communists, the party still grew. By December 1946, it had nearly 300,000 members. The Workers' Party used the KDP to keep an eye on people who did not support communism.
In the August 1948 elections, KDP members won 35 seats. These members joined the new Supreme People's Assembly. This assembly later created the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The party's membership dropped during the Korean War. Many members left North Korea. By the end of the war, fewer than 10,000 members remained.
In 1956, Choe Yong-gon became a vice chairman of the WPK. Hong Ki-hwang took over as chairman of the KDP. In the 1957 elections, the party won eleven seats. Hong and another non-communist leader were given government jobs. This was the last time non-communist parties held such positions.
In 1958, Hong and others were removed from their roles. All of the party's offices were closed down by 1960. The party's seats in the assembly dropped. It had four seats in 1962 and only one in 1967 and 1972. In 1980, the party changed its name to the Korean Social Democratic Party (KSDP).
From 1982 to the early 2000s, the party shared its newspaper abroad. It was available in Korean and English. Since the mid-2000s, it is only available online.
In the 1990 elections, the party received 51 seats. It had 52 seats after the 1998 elections. In the 2009 elections, it had 50 seats. It kept the same number of seats in the 2014 elections.
The party was led by Pak Yong-il until he passed away in 2022. Before him, Kim Yong-dae was the chairman. As of 2007, the party had more than 30,000 members.
What the Party Believes
The Korean Democratic Party started as a nationalist party. It was founded by Cho Man-sik. It aimed to work with the communists. After Cho's arrest, it became a "satellite party." This means it was controlled by the communists.
In 1947, the party officially supported the idea of a "people's democratic revolution." This meant they fully backed the political and social changes in North Korea. They also supported friendly ties with the Soviet Union. The party also adopted "democratic centralism." This is a way of organizing where decisions are made by a few leaders.
Since it came under the control of the Workers' Party, the KSDP has been used in North Korean propaganda. This propaganda is aimed at people outside North Korea. In 1981, the party was renamed the Korean Social Democratic Party. This name sounds like "social democracy," which many foreigners understand. So, the KSDP is used more in propaganda than other smaller parties.
In the 1990s, the KSDP published magazines. These magazines tried to show foreigners that North Korea had many independent parties. But they also said that these smaller parties fully supported the Workers' Party of Korea.
Party Connections
The KSDP was a member of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea. This group no longer exists.
The Korean Social Democratic Party also had ties with some South Korean parties. These included the now-closed Democratic Labor Party and Unified Progressive Party. The party still talks with South Korea's Progressive Party. In 2019, they made a joint statement against Japan.
The party also kept in touch with the Japan Socialist Party, which is now gone.
Election Results Summary
The Korean Social Democratic Party has participated in elections in North Korea. They have won seats in the Supreme People's Assembly. For example, in 1948, they won 35 seats. Their number of seats changed over the years. In 1957, they had 11 seats. By 1967 and 1972, they had only 1 seat. In 1990, they won 51 seats, and in 1998, 53 seats. In 2009 and 2014, they held 50 seats.
The party also had candidates in some elections in South Korea. In 1948, Cho Man-sik ran for Vice President but was not elected. Yi Yun-yong also ran for Vice President in 1952 and 1956 but did not win. In the 1948 South Korean Constitutional Assembly election, the party won 1 seat.
See also
In Spanish: Partido Socialdemócrata de Corea para niños
- List of political parties in North Korea
