1948: The New Korea

Welcome to 1948: The New Korea. In this alternate history, Korea did not divide into North and South Korea after the Second World War. With the governments of both the North and the South managing to come to an agreement. In this, they assured a Korea free from American, Soviet and Chinese influences, with an assurance of democracy in the new state.

The Troublesome 50s
While major figures like Syngman Rhee and Kim Il-sung managed, somehow, to cooperate in the establishment of the Korean Republic, there was many that did not like the development. Cliques in the Armed Forces was constantly beaten down on when they tried to sieze power. These things would set the democratic system in danger.

While communists and anti-communists posed a threat to this system, it managed to survive. While members of the Korean People's Army was not fully integrated into the Armed Forces until the late 1950s, the idea came up that any further conflict would make other powers involve themselves in Korean affairs, and divide the country up. Korea was not to end up like Vietnam.

The Korean Miracle
In the 1960 elections, the Worker's Party of Korea would come to power, with support of other socialists and progressive parties. Economic plans was sat in place, and the development of the country began. The government was set to make the country more self-reliant, Juche. Many major industries and buisnesses came under state control, something that the liberal and conservative opposition opposed.

Kim Il-sung had the belief that successful policies from the Worker's Party would give his party the jump to be able to consilidate power, making Korea into a "true democratic people's republic". This did not happen. The constitution required a two thirds majority to be changed, and the Worker's Party was not able to even get 40% of the votes.

Through the years of the Korean miracle, many Korean homes got electricity and education was given to most children aged 5 to 16. The system aslo begun to moderate the ruling government. At the height of the miracle, in the early 1970s, the Worker's Party of Korea declared the current democratic system a good enough model to follow.

Power also shifted between the Worker's Party and the conservative Liberal Party, but in both cases, the economic policy had little change.

Stagnation and Liberalization
Starting in the mid 1970s, economic stagnation begun to grip the country. With the country following the economic policy of the Worker's Party for years, they eventually begun to lose support. The economy shifted over to exporting industrial products, and private companies begun to spring up in the Korean cities.