Bareun Party
바른정당
LeaderYoo Seong-min
Floor leaderOh Sin-hwan
Secretary GeneralKim Sung-dong
Chairman of the Policy Planning CommitteeJi Sang-wook
Founded27 December 2016 (2016-12-27) (as a parliamentary group)
25 January 2017 (2017-01-25) (as a political party)
Dissolved13 February 2018 (2018-02-13)[1]
Split fromSaenuri Party
Merged intoBareunmirae Party
IdeologyConservatism (South Korea)[2]
Moderate conservatism
Political positionCentre-right[3]
Factions:
Right-wing[2]
Colors  Sky Blue[4]
Party flag
Website
bareun.party
Bareun Party
Hangul
바른정당
Revised RomanizationBareunjeongdang
McCune–ReischauerParŭnjŏngdang
Conservative New Party for Reform
Hangul
개혁보수신당
Revised RomanizationGaehyeokbosusindang
McCune–ReischauerKaehyŏkposusindang

The Bareun Party (Korean: 바른정당; Hanja: 바른政黨; RR: Bareunjeongdang; lit. Righteous Political Party) was a conservative[2][5][6] political party in South Korea, announced on 27 December 2016 with the defection of 29 anti-Park Saenuri Party lawmakers. It was known as the Conservative New Party for Reform until 8 January 2017.[7]

History

The party was formed amidst a faction feud in the Liberty Korea Party (then Saenuri Party) involving pro and anti-Park Geun-hye forces.[8] The party began as a parliamentary negotiation body that split from the Saenuri Party in December 2016, and became a party in January 2017.[8]

Merger

In January 2018, the party's leader, along with the People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo, announced their plans to merge the two parties, in an effort to bolster the two party's parliamentary standing ahead of local elections in June.[9]

The merger faces opposition from members of both parties, citing concerns over differences in ideology and policy, particularly over differing stances on dealing with North Korea.[9] Nevertheless, the party approved the merger plans on 5 February 2018.[10] The merger is expected to be finalized on February 13.[11]

Defections

During its existence, the party suffered from a spate of defections.

2017

By April 2017, the party had already lost 14 lawmakers.[12]

In May, a week before the presidential election, 13 lawmakers affiliated with the party announced their decision to defect and return to the LKP.[12] The decision came after the party's presidential candidate, Yoo Seong-min, declined to join forces with LKP's Hong Joon-pyo and PP's Ahn Cheol-soo and field a single presidential candidate.[12] The defection left the party with just 19 seats in the National Assembly, one short of the 20 required for a political party to be recognized as a negotiating body.[12]

Ahead of a leadership contest in November 2017, an additional eight lawmakers defected, and rejoined the LKP.[13] The eight lawmakers were later joined by the party's floor leader, Joo-Ho-young.[14]

2018

On 9 January 2018, lawmaker Kim Se-yeon,[15] Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil,[16] and lawmaker Park In-sook[16] defected from the party, all of whom rejoined the LKP.[16]

Electoral results

Election Candidate Votes  % Result
2017 Yoo Seung-min 2,208,771 6.76 Not elected

See also

References

  1. "Two minor parties merge to create new centrist party". 13 February 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "Bareun Party's rift raises talk of political realignment". The Korea Herald. Yonhap News Agency. 19 October 2017.
  3. "바른정당 당색은 '스카이블루'". 연합뉴스 (in Korean). 2017-01-15. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
  4. Choi Ha-young (13 February 2018). "New centrist party vows to beat two major parties". The Korea Times.
  5. Hong, David Sungjae (25 April 2017). "Impact Player: Yoo Seong-min". Center for Strategic and International Studies.
  6. Herald, The Korea (2017-01-09). "New conservative party named 'Barun Party'". Retrieved 2018-01-30.
  7. 1 2 "Bareun Party officially launched after splitting from Saenuri". Yonhap. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  8. 1 2 "Leaders of People's Party, Bareun Party declare merger". The Korean Herald. Herald Corporation. Yonhap. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  9. "Bareun Party Agrees on Proposal for Merger with People's Party". KBS World Radio. 5 February 2018. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  10. Choi, Ha-young (30 January 2018). "People's Party, Bareun Party to finalize merger Feb. 13". The Korea Times. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "13 Bareun Party Lawmakers to Defect to Liberty Korea Party". KBS World Radio. 2 May 2017. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  12. "Eight lawmakers to officially defect from Bareun Party". The Korea Herald. Herald Corporation. Yonhap. 8 November 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  13. "Bareun Party picks new floor leader, policy chief". Yonhap. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018. Oh filled the void left by Joo Ho-young who bolted from the party last month to join the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP).
  14. "Bareun Party lawmaker decides to defect to Liberty Korea Party". Yonhap. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  15. 1 2 3 Choi, Ha-young (16 January 2018). "Yet another Bareun Party lawmaker to defect to LKP". The Korea Times. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
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