Political Party Development in South Korea: focusing on the 2017 presidential election

Abstract

This study analyzes the extent to which the media and the public spurred changes in South Korean political parties following the impeachment of Park Geun-Hye. By analyzing the five parties in the subsequent 2017 presidential election, I find evidence of a loose trend that suggests a further transition of South Korean parties into electoral-professional parties. The abrupt changes in media platforms, rapid technological development, and rise of public awareness prompted parties to resort to highly professionalized campaigns for electoral success. However, the extent of change in each party varied, depending on its history and agenda.