The origins of the Democratic Labor Party can be traced back to two major groups: National Liberation (민족해방, NL) and People's Democracy (민중민주, PD).

Colonial semi-feudalism), while PD characterized it as a highly developed capitalist system(Korean: 국가 독점 자본주의; lit.

As a result, NL advocated for national liberation through solidarity with North Korea, whereas PD championed socialism through working-class struggle.

Consequently, a significant portion of the PD faction moved away from Marxism, adopting the idea of a Nordic-style social market economy.

Gunjasan Thesis), leaders of the innovation faction resolved to form a mass party and engage in central politics.

People's Victory for 21st Century nominated KCTU Chairman Kwon Young-ghil as its candidate in the 1997 presidential election, but the campaign was unsuccessful.

In the 2002 local elections, the Democratic Labor Party garnered an average of 8% of the votes, establishing itself as a major political force.

The election was closely contested, with Moon Sung-hyun narrowly winning 53.6% of the vote to Cho Seung-soo's 46.4%, giving the Jaju Faction the upper hand in the party.

Lee Yong-dae, the leader of the Jaju-faction, who was also a policy committee chairman, blocked the Pyeongdeung-faction's resolution criticizing North Korea for its nuclear test.

Chairman Lee argued that North Korea's nuclear weapons were defensive measures against American imperialism, which was severely condemned by media.

[11] Furthermore, during the 2007 presidential election, the Jaju-faction pushed an unpopular slogan advocating for “a federation of North and South Korea.

[12] The defeat in the presidential election prompted the Pyeongdeung-faction to establish an emergency committee led by Sim Sang-jung.

The Pyeongdeung-faction advocated for the immediate expulsion of those involved, while the Jaju-faction opposed such actions, arguing that the party should not succumb to anti-communist pressure.

After the crushing defeat in the 2008 general election, contrary to experts’ expectations, the Democratic Labor Party quickly regained its footing.

The Democratic Labor Party further strengthened its position by coordinating protests with the KCTU against the Lee Myung-bak administration's anti-labor policies.

Around the same time, the Participation Party, founded by former Minister of Health and Welfare Rhyu Si-min, also joined the DLP's left-wing reorganization efforts.

[16] The Jaju-faction operated as a single caucus, National Union(Korean: 민주주의 민족통일 전국연합; lit.