Transition to Intra-Party Democracy: The Korean Presidential Candidate Selection System

This article examines the process of democratization of the candidate election process in the New Korea Party during 1997, and the background that caused the system to become more democratic. Two aspects of that process are examined: decentralization of power and problems of securing autonomy from elite control. The analysis demonstrates that although democracy within the party was not achieved completely, significant progress was made. Such a change was the result of conflict among the elite group within the party, incentives of party members, the need to maximize votes in elections, and popular pressure.