The minor opposition Unified Progressive Party was disbanded Friday following a ruling by the Constitutional Court.
This is the first time a political party has been disbanded due to a ruling by the Constitutional Court, with eight of the nine justices judging it fit to disband the UPP. With the ruling taking effect immediately, the party no longer exists as a political entity. In addition, UPP Reps. Kim Mi-hyui, Kim Jae-yeon, Lee Sang-kyu, Lee Seok-ki and Oh Byung-yun lost their status as members of the parliament.
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| Constitutional Court President Park Han-chul (Yonhap) |
The ruling comes more than a year after a petition from the Ministry of Justice. On Nov. 5, 2013, the Justice Ministry filed a constitutional petition calling for the UPP to be disbanded, claiming that the party was pro-North Korea. Citing the UPP’s constitution, which closely resembles North Korea’s state ideology, the Justice Ministry argued that the party should be disbanded.
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| UPP chief Lee Jung-hee (Yonhap) |
The UPP constitution states that a “progressive democratic society truly owned by the people” should be established. The Justice Ministry argued that the expression is effectively the same as an article of North Korea’s constitution that states “sovereignty is with the workers, farmers, educated workers and all working people.”
By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)
