Formerly named United Democratic Party (DP; Korean: 통합민주당; Hanja: 統合民主黨; RR: Tonghapminjudang), it was renamed in 1996.

[1] However, shortly after, Kim Dae-jung (DJ), former Co-President of the party, officially returned to politics, and conflicts were sparked.

The party faced a huge defeat in 1996 election, due to the oppositions votes splits under the FPTP systems with few PRs.

[8] After 2 main opposition parties ― National Congress for New Politics (NCNP), and United Liberal Democrats (ULD) had agreed to put a sole candidate named Kim Dae-jung of NCNP, the ruling NKP's Lee Hoi-chang was struggling with his low popularity.

[9] Both were combined and re-founded as Grand National Party,[10] but dissidents including Roh Moo-hyun disagreed with it and joined to NCNP.