section_path: Jurisdiction/Dissolution of political parties
section_name: Dissolution of political parties
paragraph_text: Dissolution of political parties
  
  Under the constitution, the government may request the Constitutional Court to dissolve a political party if its objectives or activities are deemed to violate the liberal democratic basic order (민주적 기본질서). The party-dissolution provision was influenced by its German equivalent, Party Ban (German: Parteiverbot), designed to prevent events like the rise of the Nazis from recurring. While the provision aims to prevent anti-democratic factions from destabilizing society, it also risks being abused by authoritarian leaders to dissolve political parties that challenge their authority and suppress dissent and free speech. Requiring approval by the Constitutional Court is intended to address such concerns.
  
  The Constitutional Court rarely accepts dissolution petitions, and even less often rules in favor of dissolving a political party. As of April 2023, the Unified Progressive Party is the only political party dissolved through the provision.