Court orders leftist party in ROK to disband

A leftist political party in the Republic of Korea was disbanded on Friday in a rare decision by the constitutional court, which said the party supported the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

In an 8-1 decision, judges endorsed the government's petition to disband the Unified Progressive Party and ordered the forfeiture of all of its five seats in parliament.

The unprecedented ruling came more than a year after the Justice Ministry petitioned the court for the party's dissolution. It marked the first time since 1948, when the ROK adopted its first constitution, that the government has called for the disbanding of a political party.

The court ruled the party's platform ran counter to the basic order of the Constitution by supporting the DPRK's ideology.

"I hope today's decision will terminate the time-consuming ideological debate in our country," said Park Han-chul, the court's chief judge.

ROK election authorities took quick action to freeze the party's assets.

The court was tightly guarded by about 1,000 riot police as hundreds of people from rival groups gathered in the nearby streets, TV images showed.

About 200 right wing activists hailed the court's decision and waved ROK flags.

Across the street, about 400 UPP members demonstrated against the decision.

The leftist party has been at the center of political debate since UPP lawmaker Lee Seok-ki was arrested last year on charges of plotting an armed revolt in support of the DPRK. Lee was accused of seeking to "revolutionize" the ROK.

Opinions about the court's decision were mixed among people in Seoul. Bin Woon-cheol, an office worker, said only the electorate could decide the fate of a political party, adding that unless a party can meet people's demands, it will disappear .

A taxi driver in his late 50s, who declined to be identified, said it was the right decision.

"It is nonsense for a political party to follow the DPRK in a divided country," he said.

AFP - Xinhua

(China Daily 12/20/2014 page11)