[5] When Kim was able to return to Korea in 1945, the KIP began operating in the country.
Kim was initially supportive of Syngman Rhee, but a dispute over holding separate elections in South Korea (Kim was opposed, Rhee was for) led to a split and the party did not participate in the 1948 parliamentary elections in South Korea.
However, Kim was a candidate in the indirect presidential elections in July 1948, losing heavily to Rhee.
It participated in the 1950 parliamentary elections, but received only 0.3% of the vote, failing to win a seat.
Despite increasing its vote share to 2.2% in the June 1967 parliamentary elections, the party remained seatless.