Progressive Party (South Korea, 2017)

The Progressive Party (진보당, Jinbodang) was a minor political party in South Korea that was founded in 2017. It emerged from the remnants of the dissolved Unified Progressive Party, which was controversially disbanded by the Constitutional Court in 2014 due to alleged pro-North Korean sympathies.

The Progressive Party positioned itself on the left of the South Korean political spectrum, advocating for policies such as increased social welfare, labor rights, and improved relations with North Korea. Key policy positions included strengthening the social safety net, reducing economic inequality, and promoting peaceful reunification.

The party struggled to gain significant electoral success. In the 2020 legislative election, they failed to win any seats in the National Assembly. The party primarily aimed to represent and advocate for the interests of marginalized groups, including workers, farmers, and the urban poor.

In 2020, the Progressive Party merged with the People's United Party (민중당, Minjungdang) to form a new, larger progressive political party called the Progressive Party (진보당, Jinbodang), also known as the "New" Progressive Party, retaining the same name but representing a re-organization and merging of political forces. This merger aimed to consolidate the left-wing political landscape in South Korea and increase their chances of electoral success in future elections. Therefore, the Progressive Party established in 2017 no longer exists as a separate entity.