2018 Korean General Election
From 1910 to 1983, the Korean peninsula remained as a colony of the
Japanese Empire. During most of this period, the Japanese Empire and the native Koreans would clash often due to fierce mistreatment from Imperial forces, the largest of which was the
Pyongan War (1957-1961) where over a two million Koreans would ultimately perish. However in the 1970's, the government of the Japanese Empire would begin the shift dramatically. Distaste with the traditionally ultra-conservative government and the large constant presence needed in the colonies led to the philosophy of the Japanese Empire to change to what would be called
"Detachment". This would mean that the Japanese would loose its grip on its colonies while still making sure to maintain a significant amount of influence over its former possession. This meant giving home rule to several of its island colonies such as Taiwan. But in Hawaii and Korea, this meant independence... mostly. In Korea, this meant that the new
Korean Commonwealth would have control over most domestic issues, but it would also be a member of the
West Pacific Union, a trade and customs union with Japan and the rest of its sphere, one where Japan would almost completely dominate. It would also have to allow Japan to keep several military bases in the country such as on Jeju Island where the Japanese military presence is overwhelming (and the Japanese actually make up a majority of the island's inhabitants.
In 1983, the first election for the Korean Commonwealth would take place and the right-wing
United Korea Party would take 60% of the seats in the country's parliament known as the
Legislative Yuan. The UKP would be supportive of the current agreement with the Japanese and would remain the largest party in country in every election since. in 1996, the UKP would ally with the also Pro-Japanese
Liberal Democratic Party to form a coalition which has continued to today. There are several parties that are not satisfied with the arrangement with the Japanese, largest of which is the center-left
Progressive Party. The Anti-Japanese parties in the Yuan also include the Centrist
People's Party, the Far-Right
One Nation Party, and the Far-Left
New Social Party. In the 2018 elections, the Pro-Japanese Coaltion lost 13 seats to the Anti-Japanese parties, this is the fifth consecutive election since 2001 where the coalition lost seats.