The Liberal Party () was a
far-right
Far-right politics, also referred to as the extreme right or right-wing extremism, are political beliefs and actions further to the right of the left–right political spectrum than the standard political right, particularly in terms of being ...
corporatist
Corporatism is a collectivist political ideology which advocates the organization of society by corporate groups, such as agricultural, labour, military, business, scientific, or guild associations, on the basis of their common interests. The ...
and
anti-communist
Anti-communism is Political movement, political and Ideology, ideological opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed after the 1917 October Revolution in the Russian Empire, and it reached global dimensions during the Cold War, w ...
political party in
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
established in 1951 by
Syngman Rhee
Syngman Rhee (, ; 26 March 1875 – 19 July 1965) was a South Korean politician who served as the first president of South Korea from 1948 to 1960.
Rhee was also the first and last president of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Ko ...
.
History
As the
1952 presidential elections neared, Rhee made public his intention to organize a party during his August 15 Speech in 1951. Rhee called Yi Bum-seok, then the ambassador in China, and charged him with creating the Liberal Party. Yi used the strong organizational base of "
Korean National Youth Association" () as a starting point and incorporated the major five organizations: "
National Association for the Rapid Realisation of Korean Independence" (), "Korean Federation of Labor" (), "Peasant Federation" (), and "Korean Council of Wives" () as temporary sub-organizations under the Liberal Party.
Ideology
Although the name "Liberal Party" is used, it is not the traditional definition as used in the West. For example, the Liberal Party advocated for ''
Ilminism
Ilminism (;), frequently translated as the One-People Principle, One-People Doctrine, or Unidemism, was the political ideology of South Korea under its first President, Syngman Rhee. The ''Ilminist'' principle has been likened by contemporary sc ...
'' and viewed Western-style
liberalism
Liberalism is a political and moral philosophy based on the rights of the individual, liberty, consent of the governed, political equality and equality before the law."political rationalism, hostility to autocracy, cultural distaste for c ...
and
individualism
Individualism is the moral stance, political philosophy, ideology and social outlook that emphasizes the intrinsic worth of the individual. Individualists promote the exercise of one's goals and desires and to value independence and self-reli ...
negatively, instead suggesting the need for "Korean-style liberal democracy". One of the main values of Ilminism was the ''
Hongik Ingan
Hongik Ingan () is the official educational motto of South Korea. The phrase can be translated to English as "To broadly benefit the human world". Hongik Ingan is the founding idea of Gojoseon and is known as the first concept founded by Dangun ...
'', based on
traditional conservatism
Traditionalist conservatism, often known as classical conservatism, is a political and social philosophy that emphasizes the importance of transcendent moral principles, manifested through certain natural laws to which society should adhere ...
, and the
Students Protection Corps, which is said to be similar to ''
Hitlerjugend
The Hitler Youth (german: Hitlerjugend , often abbreviated as HJ, ) was the youth organisation of the Nazi Party in Germany. Its origins date back to 1922 and it received the name ("Hitler Youth, League of German Worker Youth") in July 1926 ...
''. To this day, the term "liberal democracy" () in South Korea is still used in a similar sense to "anti-communist system" or "free world against communism" by the conservative camp of South Korea, rather than the same meaning as Western
liberal democracy
Liberal democracy is the combination of a liberal political ideology that operates under an indirect democratic form of government. It is characterized by elections between multiple distinct political parties, a separation of powers into diff ...
.
Ahn Ho-sang Ahn or AHN may refer to:
People
* Ahn (Korean surname), a Korean family name occasionally Romanized as ''An''
* Ahn Byeong-keun (born 1962, ), South Korean judoka
* Ahn Eak-tai (1906–1965, ), Korean composer and conductor
* Ahn Jung-hwan (born 1 ...
and
Lee Beom-seok, the founders of ''Ilminism'', were influenced by
Nazism
Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Na ...
,
Shōwa Statism, and
Italian Fascism.
In particular, Ahn Ho-sang is known as the most conservative and extreme nationalist in the modern history of South Korea. This may be confusing as Japan was largely viewed negatively by South Koreans at the time, and arguably still in present day, but both
Ahn Ho-sang Ahn or AHN may refer to:
People
* Ahn (Korean surname), a Korean family name occasionally Romanized as ''An''
* Ahn Byeong-keun (born 1962, ), South Korean judoka
* Ahn Eak-tai (1906–1965, ), Korean composer and conductor
* Ahn Jung-hwan (born 1 ...
and
Lee Beom-seok admired only the political and nationalist aspects of
Imperial Japan
The also known as the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan, was a historical nation-state and great power that existed from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 until the enactment of the post-World War II 1947 constitution and subsequent forma ...
and
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...
whilst opposing those regimes.
The Liberal Party put forward "
anti-communist
Anti-communism is Political movement, political and Ideology, ideological opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed after the 1917 October Revolution in the Russian Empire, and it reached global dimensions during the Cold War, w ...
and
anti-Japanese" () as its national values during its reign. At the same time, however, the Liberal Party showed a very
pro-American tendency, so it was closer to
right-wing populism
Right-wing populism, also called national populism and right-wing nationalism, is a political ideology that combines right-wing politics and populist rhetoric and themes. Its rhetoric employs anti-elitist sentiments, opposition to the Establi ...
than
resistance nationalism.
The Liberal Party supported a discriminatory policy against "
hwagyo
A recognizable community of Chinese people in Korea has existed since the 1880s, and are often known as Hwagyo. Over 90% of early Chinese migrants came from Shandong province on the east coast of China. These ethnic Chinese residents in Korea o ...
" () based on
Korean ethnic supremacy and
anti-PRC.
Due to the historical political position of the far-right
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 i ...
"Liberal Party", so far, South Korea's center-left
liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
() political forces have resulted in calling themselves liberals () but avoiding direct use of the party name "Liberal Party" ().
Election results
President
Vice President
Legislature
House of Representatives
House of Councillors
Notes
References
{{SouthKorea-party-stub
1951 establishments in South Korea
Anti-Chinese sentiment in Korea
Anti-communism in South Korea
Anti-Japanese sentiment in South Korea
Conservative parties in South Korea
Corporatism
Defunct far-right parties
Defunct nationalist parties
Defunct political parties in South Korea
Far-right politics in South Korea
National conservative parties
Political parties established in 1951
Syngman Rhee