The formation and character of the Socialist Party during the Constitutional Assembly

The Socialist Party was founded at a time when a new unification strategy had to be sought after the establishment of the South Korean government. The political goal of the Socialist Party was to build a unified, independent state based on the principle of three equalities. The Socialist Party established a political committee to oversee the subcommittees of each sector of society and responded to major issues facing society through party politics. It raised its voice for the implementation of the Land Reform Act for the stabilization of farmers’ livelihoods and the local autonomy system, which is the core of democratic politics. It also took the lead in dealing with pro-Japanese collaborators in order to correct the national spirit. It also made its position on unification policy clear and presented a plan for peaceful unification based on its recognition of the government of the Republic of Korea. The Socialist Party suffered a major political blow due to the National Assembly Spy Incident. And its power weakened amid the continued political oppression of the Syngman Rhee regime, which emphasized its anti-communist stance. After the outbreak of the Korean War, Cho So-ang was kidnapped to the North, losing its center of gravity and disbanding. The Socialist Party’s existence was not long, lasting only 1 year and 7 months. It was a political party that pursued the ideology of Samgyunju and fought for the patriotism and reality that the contradictions in South Korean society had to be corrected, and that recognized the South Korean government as it was and pursued realistic party politics within it.