South Korean legislative election, 1988

South Korean legislative election, 1988

26 April 1988

All 299 seats to the National Assembly
150 seats needed for a majority
Turnout 75.8% (Decrease8.8%)

  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Roh Tae-woo Park Young-sook
Party Democratic Justice Peace Democratic Party
Leader since 10 July 1987 17 March 1988
Leader's seat not contesting
(President)
PR List 1
Last election 148 seats
Seats won 125 70
Seat change Decrease 23 New
Popular vote 6,670,494 3,783,279
Percentage 34.0% 19.3%

  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader Kim Myeong-yun Kim Jong-pil
Party Reunification Democratic New Democratic Republican
Leader since 8 February 1988 30 October 1987
Leader's seat Jongno
(lost seat)
Buyeo
Last election
Seats won 59 35
Seat change New New
Popular vote 4,680,175 3,062,506
Percentage 23.8% 15.8%
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
the Republic of Korea
Constitution

Parliamentary elections were held in South Korea on 26 April 1988.[1] The result was a victory for the ruling Democratic Justice Party (DJP), which won 125 of the 299 seats in the National Assembly. Voter turnout was 75.8%. This was the first time in Korean history the ruling party did not win a majority in the National Assembly since 1950. In January 1990, the DJP merged with other two opposition parties, leaving Kim Dae-jung-led Peace Democratic Party to be the sole opposition party.

Parties

The governing Democratic Justice Party (DJP) had recently elected President Roh Tae-woo. While remaining the largest party, the DJP lost its absolute parliamentary majority. The party was hindered by a stronger opposition and the unpopularity of former party leader and President Chun Doo-hwan.

The opposition Peace Democratic Party led by veteran opposition leader Kim Dae-jung became the second largest party, winning more seats than another opposition Reunification Democratic Party (RDP). This was vindication for Kim Dae-jung, who came had come third in the 1987 South Korean presidential election. However, the election also showed the party's limitations, coming in as third place after DJP and RDP in popular vote and only winning seats in the Honam and Sudogwon, and nowhere outside of them.

For Kim Young-sam's Reunification Democratic Party the election was a major setback, winning third most seats in the parliament. This was after Kim had placed second in the first democratic presidential election, just ahead of Kim Dae-jung.

The New Democratic Republican Party (NDRP) led by former prime Minister Kim Jong-pil came a distant fourth. However, thanks to the failure of the DJP to win an absolute majority, the oppositions emerged as the major powerbrokers in the new National Assembly.

In January 1990, the DJP merged with the parties of Kim-Young Sam and Kim Jong-Pil to form the Democratic Liberal Party, with the former becoming its nominee in the 1992 presidential elections.

Results

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Democratic Justice Party6,675,49434.0125–23
Reunification Democratic Party4,680,17523.859New
Peace Democratic Party3,783,27919.370New
New Democratic Republican Party3,062,50615.635New
One People Democratic Party251,2361.31New
People's Party65,6500.30New
Korean Nationalist Party65,0320.30–20
New Korea Democratic Party46,8770.20–67
Democratic Korea Party32,7990.20–35
Korean Justice Party25,4330.10New
The Third Generation Party16,1480.10New
Hanist Reunification Korean Party3,7560.00New
Unificational Socialist Party3,2670.00New
Christian Holy People's Party2,2470.00New
Independents933,1614.89+5
Invalid/blank votes208,775
Total19,850,815100299+23
Source: Nohlen et al.

References

  1. Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p420 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
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