The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Wed, July 6, 2022 | 19:53
Editorial
New ways of progressives
Posted : 2014-12-21 16:52
Updated : 2014-12-21 16:52
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Break-up verdict a chance for liberals to appeal to people

President Park Geun-hye on Saturday hailed as historic the Constitutional Court's order Friday to dissolve the minor leftist Unified Progressive Party (UPP), saying, "It was a historic decision that strongly protects our liberal democracy.''

Park's statement was short and definite, but its implications are quite complex and resounding.

In reaching the landmark ruling supported by eight out of nine judges, the court accepted the Justice Ministry's argument that the third-largest party's platform reneged on the basic democratic order of the Constitution by supporting North Korea's ideological doctrine. "Taking into account the peculiar nature of the Korean Peninsula in which the country is fiercely confronting North Korea, the threats from the UPP are clear and present,'' said Constitutional Court President Justice Park Han-chul.

To sum up, the top court presented its guideline for disallowing a political party led by pro-North Korea groups to protect the country's basic democratic order. It is the first time in the nation's constitutional history that a court has ordered a political party to disband. With the ruling, five UPP lawmakers lost their seats in the 300-member legislature.

The court's decision might have been anticipated, given that conservatives make up the absolute majority of the nine-member bench. Critics also said the ruling reflected our society's conservative swing in recent years.

But one cannot help but lash out at the small far-left party's regressive moves. Formally launched in late 2011, the UPP was created with a merger of small progressive groups ahead of the legislative and presidential elections in 2012. The party and its predecessor have been involved in numerous espionage cases linked to North Korea. Lee Seok-ki, one of its lawmakers, and a few other key party members were arrested on treason charges in September last year.

The party also has virtually remained mute to the North's brutal abuse of human rights, and showed its outright anachronism by alleging that North Korea's system was better than the South's. Furthermore, the UPP has been notorious for violence and election rigging.

But it is undeniable that the verdict might compromise our precious democratic values ― freedom of speech and pursuit of diversity. At a time when the party's platform does not clearly stipulate a violent revolution or the North Korean style of socialism, the ruling might be the result of interpreting the platform out of proportion. That is because of our concern that the break-up of a political party through a court decision could weaken the freedom of political activities and violate democratic values based on party politics.

Most worrisome is that the verdict might deepen the ideological conflict between conservatives and progressives. But given that the Constitutional Court's ruling is final, it is basic for every member of society to honor it. Rather, our sincere hope is that this can serve as an occasion to let progressive politics flourish if liberals succeed in dampening the time-consuming dispute on "following North Korea'' from now on.

It is obvious that North Korea's anachronistic system cannot be an alternative to the country's progressive forces. They should emerge as social democrats that can take power by uprooting the cause for controversy over North Korea.

 
LG
  • Fashionista first lady draws polarized reactions
  • Price-conscious consumers flock to fresh food sales
  • Son Heung-min recalls experiencing racism in Germany, rejoicing at revenge in World Cup upset
  • Child porn website operator gets 2-yr prison term for concealing criminal proceeds
  • USFK member accused of alleged DUI on motorcycle
  • Korea's inflation soars to 24-year high, weighing on economy
  • June Huh becomes 1st scholar of Korean descent to win Fields Medal
  • Korea's inflation growth hits nearly 24-year high in June on fuel costs
  • US bill expresses concerns over proposed abolishment of Korean ministry of equality
  • Korea to expand nuclear power generation to 30% of total by 2030
  • Maroon 5's world tour image with Rising Sun design causes stir Maroon 5's world tour image with Rising Sun design causes stir
  • [INTERVIEW] How Frank Wildhorn became most popular musical composer in Korea [INTERVIEW] How Frank Wildhorn became most popular musical composer in Korea
  • [INTERVIEW] Yoon Doo-joon juggles music and acting for series 'Never Give Up' [INTERVIEW] Yoon Doo-joon juggles music and acting for series 'Never Give Up'
  • Enhypen returns with more intense music and performances Enhypen returns with more intense music and performances
  • Korea box office tops 15 mil. admissions in June Korea box office tops 15 mil. admissions in June
DARKROOM
  • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

  • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

  • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

  • Poor hit harder by economic crisis

    Poor hit harder by economic crisis

  • Roland Garros 2022

    Roland Garros 2022

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group