Liberalism in South Korea

This article gives an overview of liberalism and its related history in South Korea. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support and representation in the National Assembly.

Historically, liberalism in South Korea emerged as an anti-military dictatorship movement. In contemporary South Korean politics, it represents a movement positioned opposite the conservatives. Liberal political parties include the Democratic Party of Korea and the Justice Party.

The Democratic Party of Korea is a reformist party and internationally considered centrist to center-left. Although it is usually classified as a center-left party within South Korea, some studies consider its social and fiscal conservative policies more right-leaning than center-right parties in Western Europe such as Christian Democratic Union of Germany. The Justice Party is to the left of the DPK but takes a more moderate stance than the far-left parties of Western Europe.

South Korean liberals tend to unite around several key issues: a conciliatory approach to North Korea, reparations for Japanese colonial rule, and, wherever possible, autonomy from interference by major powers, including the United States. South Korean liberalism is also based on a national liberalist independence movement against Japan. South Korean liberals support the Sunshine Policy toward North Korea.