Korean Social Democratic Party

A political party in North Korea that is allied with the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).

It was formed on 3 November 1945 as the Korean Democratic Party by a mixed group of entrepreneurs, merchants, handicraftsmen, petite bourgeoisie, peasants, and Christians led by Cho Man-sik. The party's founders were motivated by anti-imperialist and anti-feudal aspirations, and aimed to eliminate the legacy of Japanese rule and build a new democratic society. Cho was arrested by Soviet authorities in 1946, followed by a purge of his supporters from the party. Subsequently, the party came under greater influence of the WPK. Since then, it has acted as a satellite party of the WPK. In 1980, it was renamed to the Korean Social Democratic Party.

The Korean Democratic Party was initially founded by Cho Man-sik as a nationalist party that could potentially play a significant role in a coalition with the communists. After Cho's arrest, the party transitioned into a satellite party of the communists. During its Second Congress in 1947, the KDP formally incorporated the theory of "people's democratic revolution" into its program; while not explicitly mentioning socialism, the KDP declared it was unconditionally supportive of the political and social reforms done in North Korea. It also supported friendly ties with the Soviet Union and adopted democratic centralism to its structure.

Since its neutralization and effective demise by the WPK, the party has been used in North Korean propaganda targeting foreign sympathizers. In 1981, the party was renamed to the Korean Social Democratic Party. Because of the ostensible social democratic ideology, which is intelligible to foreigners, the Social Democratic Party is used in such propaganda much more than the other legal minor party, the Chondoist Chongu Party. In the 1990s, the KSDP published periodical magazines in Korean and English. These magazines sought to simultaneously convince foreigners that North Korea has a multi-party system with independent parties, but also contradictorily that minor parties in North Korea support the Workers' Party of Korea without reservation.

Chairman of the Central Committee: Cho Man-sik (3 November 1945 – 24 February 1946), Choe Yong-gon (24 February 1946 – February 1956), Hong Ki-hwang (February 1956 – 1958), Kang Ryang-uk (January 1959 – 9 January 1983), Ri Kye-baek (17 April 1989 – January 1993), Kim Pyong-sik (July 1993 – August 1998), Kim Yong-dae (August 1998 – 28 August 2017), Pak Yong-il (29 August 2019–18 September 2022), Kim Ho-chol (19 January 2023 – 23 February 2026), Ri Son-gwon (23 February 2026 – present)