The Legitimacy Theory of the Provisional Government (Korean: 임정법통론; Hanja: 臨政法統論) claims that the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea is itself the only legitimate government with representation of Koreans and the entire Korean Peninsula, and that legitimacy is inherited to the present South Korea. The current Constitution of the Republic of Korea, which was finalized and revised in 1987, supports the Legitimacy Theory. According to this theory, the time when the Republic of Korea was founded was in 1919, not 1948.[1]
History
editAccording to the Legitimacy Theory, the Republic of Korea was founded in 1919, when the Provisional Government was established, not in 1948, when the official South Korean government was established; this view was supported by the Syngman Rhee, and the Korea Democratic Party. Legitimacy Theory became the main basis for right-wing conservative/anti-communist forces who opposed left-wing Government of People's Republic of Korea, which lasted from 1945 to 1946, and later supported the establishment of an conservative/anti-communist government south of the 38th parallel.[2]
In the mid-to-late 20th century, the Legitimacy Theory was generally accepted by South Korean anti-communist conservative political forces, but in the 21st century, questions about the Legitimacy Theory were raised within conservative political forces, including the New Right Movement.
Today, the Democratic Party of Korea, the successor of the Korean Democratic Party, supports the Legitimacy Theory.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Criticism of the Sanctification of Legitimacy Theory of the Provisional Government of Korea and the Rise of 'ROK Nationalism' DBPia (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-08-07.
- ^ 윤, 상현. "임정봉대론 (臨政奉戴論)" [a theory that honors the Provisional Government]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-08-23.
- ^ "정치권 건국절 논란 1919 VS 1948…왜?". KBS News. 2017-08-17.