Former President Yoon Suk-yeol left the People Power Party on the 17th, drawing attention to the history of party departures by former and current presidents.
Since the implementation of the five-year single term system in 1987, six out of eight former presidents have left their parties during their terms.
Most left their parties due to declining approval ratings and controversies involving close associates towards the end of their terms. Excluding former President Lee Myung-bak, who left after his presidency, only Moon Jae-in has completely maintained his party affiliation.
The beginning of presidential party departures occurred with former President Roh Tae-woo. He resigned from the honorary chairmanship of the Democratic Liberal Party on September 18, 1992, just three months before the next presidential election. Analysts suggest that a conflict with then-presidential candidate Kim Young-sam was a triggering factor.
Former President Kim Young-sam also left the New Korea Party on November 7, 1997, shortly before the next election, due to conflicts with other candidates. At that time, the approval rating plummeted due to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) financial crisis, and pressure to leave the party mounted as his son Hyun-chul became embroiled in the 'Hanbo Gate' scandal and was imprisoned. The next presidential candidate, former Chairman Lee Hwa-chan, directly demanded Kim's departure.
Former President Kim Dae-jung left the Millennium Democratic Party in 2002 as burdens grew on the party due to the 'Choi Kyu-sun Gate' scandal and corruption allegations involving his three sons.
Former President Roh Moo-hyun left his party twice during his term. In September 2003, during the founding of the United New Democratic Party, he left the Millennium Democratic Party to join the United New Democratic Party.
However, he left the United New Democratic Party on February 28, 2007, about a year before the end of his term, under pressure from the ruling party, citing that plummeting support could negatively affect the presidential election.
Former President Lee also reorganized his party affiliation in January 2017, eliminating political ties as many former pro-Lee Myung-bak lawmakers left the Saenuri Party. At that time, the impeachment trial of former President Park Geun-hye was ongoing due to the 'Choi Soon-sil scandal.'
Former President Park is the first president to reorganize their party affiliation through expulsion rather than departure. The ethics committee of the Liberty Korea Party issued a forced expulsion on October 20, 2017, after the 'state affairs scandal' surfaced.
Former President Yoon also received a ruling of removal from the Constitutional Court, but he took a different path from former President Park by voluntarily leaving his party. He was impeached last December 3, citing the imposition of martial law as unconstitutional, and he was removed from office last month.
Former President Yoon left the People Power Party about three years and ten months after resigning as prosecutor general in March 2021 and joining the party in July of the same year for the presidential election.