1988 South Korean legislative election

Legislative elections were held in South Korea on 26 April 1988.[1] The result was a victory for the ruling Democratic Justice Party (DJP), which won 125 of the 299 seats in the National Assembly. Voter turnout was 75.8%. This was the first time in Korean history the ruling party did not win a majority in the National Assembly since 1950. In January 1990, the DJP merged with other two opposition parties, leaving Kim Dae-jung-led Peace Democratic Party to be the sole opposition party.

1988 South Korean legislative election

26 April 1988
All 299 seats to the National Assembly 150 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	75.8% (8.8 pp)
Majority party Minority party   Leader Roh Tae-woo Park Young-sook Party Democratic Justice Peace Democratic Party Leader since 10 July 1987 17 March 1988 Leader's seat not contesting (President) PR List 1 Last election 148 seats – Seats won 125 70 Seat change 23 New Popular vote 6,670,494 3,783,279 Percentage 34.0% 19.3%   Third party Fourth party   Leader Kim Myeong-yun Kim Jong-pil Party Reunification Democratic New Democratic Republican Leader since 8 February 1988 30 October 1987 Leader's seat Jongno (lost seat) Buyeo Last election – – Seats won 59 35 Seat change New New Popular vote 4,680,175 3,062,506 Percentage 23.8% 15.8%

Parties

The governing Democratic Justice Party (DJP) had recently elected President Roh Tae-woo. While remaining the largest party, the DJP lost its absolute parliamentary majority. The party was hindered by a stronger opposition and the unpopularity of former party leader and President Chun Doo-hwan.

The opposition Peace Democratic Party led by veteran opposition leader Kim Dae-jung became the second largest party, winning more seats than another opposition Reunification Democratic Party (RDP). This was vindication for Kim Dae-jung, who came had come third in the 1987 South Korean presidential election. However, the election also showed the party's limitations, coming in as third place after DJP and RDP in popular vote and only winning seats in the Honam and Sudogwon, and nowhere outside of them.

For Kim Young-sam's Reunification Democratic Party the election was a major setback, winning third most seats in the parliament. This was after Kim had placed second in the first democratic presidential election, just ahead of Kim Dae-jung.

The New Democratic Republican Party (NDRP) led by former prime Minister Kim Jong-pil came a distant fourth. However, thanks to the failure of the DJP to win an absolute majority, the oppositions emerged as the major powerbrokers in the new National Assembly.

In January 1990, the DJP merged with the parties of Kim-Young Sam and Kim Jong-Pil to form the Democratic Liberal Party, with the former becoming its nominee in the 1992 presidential elections.

There were 224 constituency seats and 75 at large seats elected by proportional representation.

Results

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Democratic Justice Party	6,675,494	34.0	125	–23
Reunification Democratic Party	4,680,175	23.8	59	New
Peace Democratic Party	3,783,279	19.3	70	New
New Democratic Republican Party	3,062,506	15.6	35	New
Hankyoreh Democratic Party	251,236	1.3	1	New
People's Party	65,650	0.3	0	New
Korean Nationalist Party	65,032	0.3	0	–20
New Korea and Democratic Party	46,877	0.2	0	–67
Democratic Korea Party	32,799	0.2	0	–35
Korean Justice Party	25,433	0.1	0	New
The Third Generation Party	16,148	0.1	0	New
Hanist Reunification Korean Party	3,756	0.0	0	New
Unificational Socialist Party	3,267	0.0	0	New
Christian Holy People's Party	2,247	0.0	0	New
Independents	933,161	4.8	9	+5
Invalid/blank votes	208,775	–	–	–
Total	19,850,815	100	299	+23
Registered voters/turnout	26,198,205	75.8	–	–
Source: Nohlen et al.

References

1. Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p420 ISBN 0-19-924959-8

External links

• 1988 elections in South Korea Inter-Parliamentary Union