DLP is probably best described as a democratic and socialist working peoples organization. Its roots are in the peoples movements against dictatorship and the workers movement. In Korean, it is called "Minjunodong Dang." Here is its Korean website:
http://www.pangari.net/"A pro-labor party that won unprecedented seats in this week's parliamentary elections pledged Friday to submit a bill that would cancel South Korea's planned dispatch of 3,600 troops to Iraq."
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/040416/ap/d81vlm404.html"Meanwhile, the Democratic Labor Party has become the first left-wing bloc in more than four decades to take seats in parliament."
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2004/04/20/200404200005.asp"The DLP supports the withdrawal of the 37,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea and opposes a troop deployment by the country to Iraq. It also calls for a law to collect a high 'wealth tax' from rich people."
http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/Engnews/20040416/320000000020040416062150E1.html What is DLP
The Working Peoples' Party
The DLP is a political party of workers, peasantry, urban poor, small businessmen, women, students and progressive intellectuals.
It belongs to the working peoples suffering from inequality, discrimination and oppression.
The DLP brings together various progressive forces and individuals yearning for full democracy in the Korean society.
At the same time, the DLP makes an alliance with the progressive movements around the world in opposition to neo-liberalism, militarism and violations of human rights.
A World We Dream
The DLP will establish a progressive political power in order to realize full democracy with participation and autonomy of the people.
In the new millennium we will build a society in which human dignity is respected and people can hope for a better future through people-led politics and democratic economic system.
Our ultimate goal is a society of equality led by workers and the people, where the majority dominates social wealth, where individual creativity and merits are recognized, and where all forms of discrimination are eliminated.
We oppose global speculative capitals and US military hegemony. On the other hand, we promote mutual respect, equality and independence in international relations.
DLP Declaration
2000 marks the beginning of the DLP's effort to sweep away the backward politics filled with corruption and injustice.
The DLP heralds a new era where environment and humans coexist, where men and women are treated equally, and where the weak, like children, senior citizens and the disabled, enjoy equal rights.
Now, we take the first step toward a new era and the better world.
Let us together move forward to put an end to the conservative politics of corruption, oppression and discrimination.
On the launching day, 30 January 2000
History
The labor movement paved the way for DLP. Korea Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) organized a political alliance, Peoples' Victory 21 with the social movements to field its candidates in the 1997 presidential election and in the 1998 local elections.
Succeeding the Peoples' Victory 21, the preliminary Committee for Progressive Party was organized in 1999. This was followed by the launch of DLP in January 2000.
The DLP took up third position in political arena winning 8.1 percent of party vote in the 2002 June local elections. And then, the DLP's candidate, Kwon Youngghil gained 3.9% of votes in the 2002 presidential election.
Currently, the DLP boasts of 30,000 membership and 42 seats in provincial and local assemblies across the nation with no seat in the National Assembly, and occupies two districts in Ulsan City.
Structure
Everyone who shares the ideals and platform of the party is welcome to become a member through proper procedures.
The DLP Congress is held annually to set the direction of the party as well as to decide on its major activities. The congress also elects president, vice-presidents and general secretary every two year.
The DLP holds quarterly Central Committee meetings to assess activities of the party and to approve appointments of officials.
In addition, the DLP holds monthly National Executive Committee and weekly Standing Executive Committee to address day-to-day matters.
Secretariat
The DLP has departments for administration, planning, policy, organizing, training, public relations, international affairs, struggle, IT as well as committee for planning and spokesman in its head quarter.
It also publishes a weekly newspaper, Jinbojungchi and a monthly bulletin, Theory and Practice.
Furthermore, the DLP has special commissions covering labor, peasantry, urban poor, women, youth, anti-corruption, economic democracy, human rights, national reunification, local politics, environment, finance, anti-privatization and political reform.
http://inter.kdlp.org/aboutus.html?PHPSESSID=8b195e6eb49074507df0835d96f6ce1e