South Korean parliamentary election, 1996

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The 15th South Korean Parliamentary Election took place on April 11, 1996.

[edit] Parties

The governing New Korea Party (formally the Democratic Liberal Party) of President Kim Young-sam, lost its absolute parliamentary majority. The election was held three years into President Kim's five year mandate.

The opposition New Congress for New Politics was formed by veteran opposition leader Kim Dae Jung and his supporters in the Democratic Party. Kim had retired from politics following his loss in the 1992 Presidential election but formed the party after his return in 1995.

The right-wing United Liberal Democrats was led by former Prime Minister of South Korea Kim Jong-pil, a former ally of President Kim. He had been a member of the former ruling Democratic Liberal Party but broke with it following Kim's victory in 1992.

The minor Democratic Party had once been the premier opposition party. It supported Dae Jung's unsuccessful Presidential campaign in 1992 and was the largest opposition party in the outgoing National Assembly. However, following the defection of Kim and his supporters, the party was reduced to a minor force.

[edit] Results

Party Seats % of votes
New Korea Party 139 34.5%
New Congress for New Politics 79 25.3%
United Liberal Democrats 50 16.2%
Democratic Party 15 11.2%
Independents 16 11.9%


  • Total electorate: 31,488,294
  • Turnout: 20,122,799 (63.9%)
  • Invalid ballots: 469,726



[edit] External links