SEOUL: South Korea’s far-left political party was disbanded yesterday in a rare decision by the constitutional court which labelled it a pro-North Korean group.
In an 8-1 decision, judges endorsed the government’s petition to disband the Unified Progressive Party (UPP) and ordered the forfeiture of all of its five seats in parliament.
The court ruled the party’s platform ran counter to the basic democratic order of the constitution by supporting North Korea’s ideological doctrine.
South Korea’s election authorities took quick action to freeze the party’s assets.
Rights groups denounced the decision saying that it flew in the face of freedom of expression.
“The ban on the UPP raises serious questions as to the authorities’ commitment to freedom of expression and association,” Roseann Rife, Amnesty International’s East Asia research director, said in a statement.
Human Rights Watch called the decision “draconian”.
The leftist party has been at the centre of political debate since UPP lawmaker Lee Seok-Ki was arrested last year on charges of plotting an armed revolt in support of North Korea.AFP
