South Korean parliamentary election, 1988

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The 13th South Korean Parliamentary Election took place on April 26, 1988.

[edit] Parties

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

The Party for Peace and Democracy led by veteran opposition leader Kim Dae Jung had a strong showing, coming a distant second but overtaking its opposition rival the Reunification Democratic Party (RDP) to become the largest parliamentary opposition party. This was vindication for Dae Jung, who came third behind both Tae-woo and Young-sam in the 1987 Presidential election.

For Kim Young-sam and the Reunification Democratic Party the election was a major setback. The party came a distant third, this was after Kim had placed second in the 1987 Presidential Election, just ahead of Dae Jung.

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

[edit] Results

Party Seats % of votes
Democratic Justice Party 125 33.96%
Party for Peace and Democracy 70 19.26%
Reunification Democratic Party 59 23.83%
New Democratic Republican Party 35 15.59%
Independents 10 7.36%


  • Total electorate: 26,198,205
  • Turnout: 19,840,815 (75.73%)
  • Invalid ballots: 198,775



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