The Liberal-Democrat Conflict and Debate Regarding the Realization of Bicameralism, 1956-1960

This paper examines the debate between the Liberal Party and the Democratic Party on bicameralism from 1956 to 1960, explaining why the realization of bicameralism failed. Bicameralism was adopted in 1952, but it was not realized. This gap between the constitution and reality became a major issue after the 1956 presidential election. When Liberals proposed a parliamentary amendment, Democrats opposed it and argued for the reinstatement of bicameralism, accusing Liberals of ‘unconstitutional’ neglect of bicameralism. After dropping the amendment, Liberals and Democrats enacted election laws for both the lower and upper houses. But after their defeat in the general election of 1958, Liberals claimed the futility of bicameralism. Democrats, on the other hand, urged the organization of the upper house, convinced of victory in the election. A massive dispute on bicameralism was violently ended, when Liberals used force to neutralize the enforcement deadline of the election law of the upper house. No further debate on bicameralism ensued in any degree of seriousness, and a bicameral system was not realized in ROK until the collapse of the Syngman Rhee regime.