Liminal Space for Progressive Leftists in South Korea's Bipartisan Politics After the 2024 General Election

Abstract

While the results of the 2024 general election in South Korea signalled a victory for the liberal bloc, mainly led by the Democratic Party of Korea, it also marked the climax of the recent downturn in the country’s left-leaning progressive politics. However, scant attention has been paid to the rise and fall of leftist parties in Korean politics, which have struggled to maintain their power even at the margins of the National Assembly. This commentary seeks to offer a nuanced understanding of progressive politics in South Korea, which has historically oppressed socialist movements amidst anti-communist regimes for decades. It first provides an overview of the socio-political landscape of class struggle in the country and then outlines the main characteristics of three streams of progressive politics—liberal, nationalist, and socialist. Then, it discusses the history of left-leaning progressive political parties that have taken different paths and positions regarding their electoral alliance with the liberals. It is concludes that, in the current political landscape, leftist partisans are unlikely to return to the National Assembly in the near future.