Free Korea 21 was a

conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...

political party in South Korea led by Choi Jong-ho and Kim Kyung-se.

History

The party was founded as the Pro-Ban Unification Party ( ko, 친반통일당) on 14 March 2016, in order to endorse the-then

Secretary-General of the United Nations The secretary-general of the United Nations (UNSG or SG) is the chief administrative officer of the United Nations and head of the United Nations Secretariat, one of the six principal organs of the United Nations. The role of the secretary-g ...

Ban Ki-moon for the upcoming presidential election. In 2016 election, the party nominated 6 candidates — 2 for constituencies (including the former

Cheongju Cheongju () is the capital and largest city of North Chungcheong Province in South Korea. History Cheongju has been an important provincial town since ancient times. In the Cheongju Mountains, specifically in the one where Sangdang Sanseong is ...

Mayor

Han Dae-soo Hahn Dae-soo (Hangul: 한대수; born March 12, 1948) is a South Korean folk rock singer-songwriter. He is considered South Korea's "master of folk rock" and a pioneer of 1960s Korean hippie culture. Biography Hahn Dae-soo was born in Busan a ...

) and 4 for

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s, in which no one was elected. Following the election defeat, it changed its name to the Pro-Ban Nation Hope Union (

Korean Korean may refer to: People and culture * Koreans, ethnic group originating in the Korean Peninsula * Korean cuisine * Korean culture * Korean language **Korean alphabet, known as Hangul or Chosŏn'gŭl **Korean dialects and the Jeju language ** ...

: 친반국민희망연합) on 29 November. It again changed to the Party for National Hope (

: 국민희망당) on 31 January 2017 shortly after Ban declared to not seek for the presidential election. On 13 April, it then adopted a new name Economic Patriots ( ko, 경제애국당), with electing the President of Haha Group Oh Young-guk as its presidential candidate. Oh received 6,040 votes (0.01%), making him as the candidate with the fewest votes in the presidential election, as well as the fewest votes since 1948. The party then reverted its former name on 29 October 2019 and again to the Korea Economic Party ( ko, 한국경제당) on 2 March 2020 as a "refoundation". Prior to the 2020 election, the Gangnam 3rd MP Lee Eun-jae, joined this party, making the party with a parliamentary representation. Lee, who was elected under the

Saenuri The Liberty Korea Party () was a conservative political party in South Korea that was described variously as right-wing, right-wing populist, or far-right. Until February 2017, it was known as the Saenuri Party (), and before that as the Ha ...

(then United Future Party) banner in 2016, joined the Christian Liberal Unification Party (CLUP) after lost at

preselection Preselection is the process by which a candidate is selected, usually by a political party, to contest an election for political office. It is also referred to as candidate selection. It is a fundamental function of political parties. The presele ...

. However, she also withdrew from the CLUP following her elimination due to her

Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

identity. After the party did not gain any seats in the election, sources reported that Lee had already exited from the party. The party was renamed to Free Korea 21 on 14 December 2020, and voted to merge into the new Freedom and Democratic Party on 6 March 2021.

Policies

The party describes itself as "centre-right" and critical of the United Future Party. Originally a pro- Ban party, it has renounced its pro-Ban stance in 2017.

2016 election manifesto

For the 2016 election, the party promised a constitutional amendment, from the 5-year non-renewable presidential system to the American-style 4-year renewable presidential system with reinstating the vice presidency.

2017 presidential election manifesto

Following are a part of the manifestos of Oh Young-guk. * Building South Korea as the leading country of

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* Building the "Korean identity" by ethnic integration and stopping wars * Recover all credit delinquers * Pardoning all imprisoned criminals, as well as removing all criminal records 3 years from the enforcement ends (not applicable for brutal crimes i.e. murder, rape, robbery and assault)

2020 election manifesto

For the 2020 election, the party promised to overcome the

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, adopting it as its "1st manifesto".

Election results

President

Legislature

References

External links

Official website
{{South Korean political parties Conservative parties in South Korea Political parties established in 2016 2016 establishments in South Korea 2021 disestablishments in South Korea Political parties disestablished in 2021