Neoliberal Politics in South Korea and the Democratic Labour Party’s Counter-Campaign

Authors

  • Hoppi Yoon School of International Studies, College of Law, Government and International Studies, Universit Utara Malaysa

Keywords:

neoliberalism, centrist tendency, radical socialism, economic democracy, social safety net

Abstract

This article reviews the South Korean Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) anti-neoliberal campaigns of the 2000s. While the centrist government implemented abortive economic reform and pro-capitalist labour policies, the DLP had a great window of opportunity to replace the centrist tendency with a moderate socialist program. Contrary to expectations, the DLP’s counter neoliberalism campaigns were unsuccessful as the party’s campaigns went through within an anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist struggle which resembled the radical Latin American leftist parties in the 1970s. Due mainly to this radical strategy, the DLP was unable to create a broad coalition with civil movements and the centre-left tendency. The DLP’s radical anti-neoliberalism campaign was unsuited to the Korean constituency and the party was defeated in a series of presidential elections.

Additional Files

Published

30-06-2014

How to Cite

Yoon, H. (2014). Neoliberal Politics in South Korea and the Democratic Labour Party’s Counter-Campaign. Journal of Governance and Development (JGD), 10(1), 137–161. Retrieved from https://e-journal.uum.edu.my/index.php/jgd/article/view/13886