New Democratic Party (South Korea)

The New Democratic Party of Korea (Korean: 신민당, hanja: 新民黨; NDP) was a South Korean opposition party that existed from 1963 to 1980, when it was forcibly dissolved by the ninth amendment of the constitution promulgated by Chun Doo-hwan the same year. It was the main opposition party during the Park Chung-hee dictatorial regime, and especially since 1972, when the Yushin constitution was put into effect.

Timeline of the party

• 7 February 1967 – founded as a coalition of the parties opposing the Park regime – that is, the Civil Rule Party and the People's Democratic Party.
• 21 February 1967 – officially registered.
• 8 September 1969 – internal party crisis, as there is no consensus about the amendment of the constitution to allow Park Chung-hee run for a third reelection.
• 21 September 1969 – the party is again registered.
• 26 January 1970 – the Liberal Party representatives join the NDP.
• 3 February 1970 – the independents in the National Assembly of South Korea join the NDP to strengthen the opposition.
• March 1971 – the party unanimously elects Kim Dae-jung as candidate in the presidential election.
• 27 October 1980 – the party is dissolved by the transitory dispositions of the Constitution of the Fifth Republic of South Korea.

Samseon Gaejeon

In September 1969, the regime amended the Constitution to allow the incumbent president Park Chung-hee run for a third reelection. The opposition had no consensus on that issue, so some representatives voted yea on that and others did the opposite. This caused an internal party crisis that resulted in the dissolution of the party and the presentation of a communique showing the opinion on the issue.

Election results

Presidential elections

Election	Candidate	Total votes	Share of votes	Outcome	Party Name
1967	Yun Bo-seon	4,526,541	40.9%	Lost N	New Democratic Party
1971	Kim Dae-jung	5,395,900	45.3%	Lost N	New Democratic Party

Legislative elections

Election	Total seats won	Total votes	Share of votes	Outcome of election	Election leader	Party Name
1967	45 / 175	3,554,224	32.7%	45 seats; Minority	Yu Jin-o	New Democratic Party
1971	89 / 204	4,969,050	44.4%	44 seats; Minority	Kim Hong-il	New Democratic Party
1973	52 / 219	3,577,300	32.5%	37 seats; Minority	Yu Chin-san	New Democratic Party
1978	61 / 231	4,861,204	32.8%	9 seats; Minority	Yi Cheol-seung	New Democratic Party

See also

• Democratic Party (South Korea, 2008)
• Democratic Party (South Korea, 2011)
• New Politics Alliance for Democracy