Legitimacy Theory of the Provisional Government

The Legitimacy Theory of the Provisional Government (Korean: 임시정부 법통론 or 임정법통론; Hanja: 臨時政府 法統論 or 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.

History

According 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.

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.

See also

• Controversy over National Foundation Day in South Korea
• First Republic of Korea
• White Shirts Society