United Socialist Party of Korea

The United Socialist Party of Korea was a Left-wing political party in South Korea. The party was founded in the spring of 1961, through the merger of two groups.[1] The party was led by Kim Chul.[2]

United Socialist Party of Korea
통일사회당
LeaderKim Chul
FoundedJanuary 21, 1961 (1961-01-21)
Dissolved1967
HeadquartersSouth Korea
NewspaperMinjok Ilbo
IdeologySocial democracy
Anti-October Yushin
Political positionCentre-left to left-wing
International affiliationSocialist International
United Socialist Party of Korea
Hangul
통일사회당
Hanja
統一社會黨
Revised RomanizationTongil Sahoedang
McCune–ReischauerT'ongil Sahoedang

The newly founded party applied for membership in the Socialist International. The party was crushed after the 1961 military takeover of the country. It was banned, most of its leading members arrested and three of its leaders (two editors and a publisher of the party organ Minjok Ilbo) were sentenced to death.[1]

The party was refounded at a congress in Seoul on September 20, 1966.[3] At the time, the party was an observer member of the Socialist International.[3] It claimed a membership of 17,500.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b Kemseke, Peter van. Towards an Era of Development: The Globalization of Socialism and Christian Democracy, 1945-1965. Leuven: Leuven University Press, 2006. p. 150
  2. ^ Janata, Vol. 30. 1975. p. 59
  3. ^ a b Laidler, Harry W. History of Socialism : A Comparative Survey of Socialism, Communism, Trade Unionism, Cooperation, Utopianism, and Other Systems of Reform and Reconstruction. New York: Routledge, 2010. p. 841
  4. ^ The Daily review: Supplement, Vol. 16. Новости Пресс Агенций (АПН), 1970. p. xlix