In unprecedented move, South Korea bans 'pro-North' political party

LAT ^ | December 19, 2014 | Steven Borowiec

[TigerLikesRooster]

In unprecedented move, South Korea bans 'pro-North' political party

By Steven Borowiec

December 19, 2014, 5:49 AM|Reporting from Seoul

Weighing free expression versus security concerns, South Korea’s Constitutional Court on Friday made an unprecedented ruling to dissolve a small left-wing party accused of being pro-North Korea..

Judges voted 8-1 in favor of disbanding the Unified Progressive Party, a small opposition party that Chief Justice Park Han-chul said was seeking to “undo South Korea’s democratic order” and bring the country under “North Korea-style socialism.”

South Korea’s constitution has a clause that allows political parties to be disbanded if they pose a threat to the national order, but it had never been invoked until this case.

Park said that the UPP’s five sitting lawmakers would be purged from parliament, and that the party would be prohibited from reforming under a different name.

[TigerLikesRooster]

This party is so virulently pro-North and notorious for violent riots. They blindly support totalitarian Pyongyang regime and totally ignores NK human right situation. The revulsion against the party is nearly universal in SK. It is not a slur to brand them as pro-North. In S. Korea, many who calls themselves political left also applaude this decision because they want to be free of this political tarbaby called UPP. They hate to be lumped up together with this party, giving the impression that all political left is virulently pro-North and supports oppression by Pyongyang regime.

It won't be easy, though, to shake off the perception that so-called "Progressives" are "N. Korean front organizations in Sheep's skin." There are still many out there in various political organizations. The main opposition party has strong pro-North faction. There are militant unions such as All Teacher's Union, and a few other militant trade unions. They are controlled by rabid pro-North elements.

[TigerLikesRooster]

P!

[Olog-hai]

They most likely don’t ignore the atrocities of North Korea and want to bring them to the South.

[DesertRhino]

They are missing out on some great comedy...

[2ndDivisionVet]

Park Chung-Hee, the current president’s father, was a very authoritative “strong man” but also a natural leader who got things done.

[Telepathic Intruder]

It won't be easy, though, to shake off the perception that so-called "Progressives" are "N. Korean front organizations in Sheep's skin

It applies just as much here, where liberals call themselves one thing while acting completely the opposite.

[TigerLikesRooster]

After his death, he became a legend among many people. In a nutshell, the current political situation in S. Korea is the clash of two myths: Park Chung-hee myth vs Kim Il-sung myth. The fight over which Korea has real political legitimacy. Some people may believe some middle ground can be established and compromise is possible. However, in reality, it is a zero-sum game. One of the two myths has to die.

[ltc8k6]

Maybe Barry will help out NK and pull our troops out of the ROK...

[RginTN]

Hard to believe in South Korea anyone is Leftist since one sees its Leftwing policies implemented in N Korea!

[GeronL]

good. A bunch of saboteurs

[GeronL]

Koreans in Japan (first imported to be used like slaves) have a very pro-North Korean bent

[miele man]

A wise move, in my opinion.

[o-n-money]

Don’t ban them, just send them to the north. That’s what they want.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Send them to North Korea, let them eat grass!

[darrellmaurina]

8 posted on 12/20/2014, 12:54:25 AM by ltc8k6: “Maybe Barry will help out NK and pull our troops out of the ROK...”

South Korea today is quite capable of taking care of itself in ways which were not the case a half-century ago.

I don't want to see Americans pull out of the Korean peninsula. But if that ever were to happen, I doubt it would help the North Korean government. It might, however, help China if South Korea came to some sort of agreement with the Chinese on how to get rid of the North Korean annoyance.

[ltc8k6]

I served a year in ROK while in the US Army.

I wouldn’t be too sure about ROK surviving if the USA leaves.

Reunification is very popular...and there are plenty of socialists.