Socialism in South Korea

Since 1945, socialism in South Korea has historically been divided into 'Communist' and 'anti-Communist'. Most 'anti-Communist' socialists used to be called Hyukshinkye.

During this time, many communists in the South moved to North Korea, but some remained in the South. A representative example is Workers' Party of South Korea. South Korea has legally banned 'Communist' political activities since its founding, but after Korean War, 'anti-Communist' socialist forces were also socially oppressed. Thus, until South Korea was democratized after 1987, left-wing activities in South Korea were generally only legally allowed to be non-marketing, moderate social democrats who supported capitalism, and most of the more left-wing and anti-capitalist left-wing political activities were banned.

The United States remained silent about the massacres in Gwangju by new-military coup forces in the 1980s, and backed the Chun Doo-hwan government. This served as an opportunity for some of the democratization movement forces in South Korea to develop anti-American sentiment. As a result, some of South Korea's moderate liberal pro-democratization activists gradually accepted socialism and became more left-wing. Revolutionary socialism has been quite popular in the South Korean left-wing Undongkwon camp since the 80s, but since the 90s, South Korean Undongkwon people's have gradually moved away from socialism. The harsh crackdown on socialists in South Korea was justified by the National Security Act.[3]

Having held seats in the National Assembly in the 2000s and early 2010s, the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) and the New Progressive Party (NPP) were left-wing parties that officially supported "democratic socialism". However, the Democratic Labor Party abandoned socialism from June 2011, and later the Unified Progressive Party supported "left-wing nationalism" but not "socialism". Much of the New Progressive Party's political stake was officially inherited by the Labor Party, but informally by the Justice Party (JP). JP politicians from major NPPs, including Sim Sang-jung, gave up "socialism" and were moderate in support of "liberalism".

Since the mid-2010s, political parties that officially support "socialism" have never secured seats in the National Assembly. The left-wing Justice Party, which currently holds seats in National Assembly, does not support "socialism" in a narrow sense.

Squid Game (2021 drama) and Parasite (2019 film) which gained international popularity, is evaluated as containing criticism of capitalism.[4][5]

In South Korea, "socialist" (non-nationalist) traditions, "Minjokhaebang" (anti-American left-wing nationalist) traditions, and "liberal" (pro-American left-liberal) traditions appear differently in diplomatic tendencies. Left-wing nationalists and liberals have something in common in that they are critical of Japan. While left-wing nationalists are critical of American imperialism. In contrast, liberals have supported America-friendly foreign policy. On the other hand, South Korean socialists criticize American imperialism, but do not support the 'anti-Japan' of left-wing nationalists and liberals, and insist on supporting and solidarity with liberals and socialists in Japan.[6] Unlike liberal nationalist and left-wing nationalists, South Korean socialists oppose anti-Japan/anti-China nationalism and support "international solidarity" (국제연대).[7][8]

In South Korea media, non-socialist/left-wing nationalist Progressive Party is perceived as "far-left", but non-nationalist/democratic socialist Labor Party is not. The reason is that the Progressive Party is more anti-American and sympathy for North Korea than the Labor Party.[note 1] But the Progressive Party does not support socialism, is perceived by socialists as a liberal party, and is not recognized as a socialist party.[9] South Korean socialists recognize the Labor Party as a "left-wing", but do not recognize the Justice Party and the Progressive Party as a "left-wing". South Korean socialists also argue that the Progressive Party is "centre-left", not "left-wing" and "far-left".[10][11]

However, in the case of Juche faction or Stalinists, it may be different from the political stance of ordinary South Korean socialists.

• Autumn Uprising of 1946
• Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (factions)
• South Korean Labor Movement
• Three Principles of the Equality

• Namuwiki — Socialism in Republic of Korea (in Korean)