Yoon Geon-young Proposes Bill to Ban Four-Term Re-election of National Assembly Members

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] On the 6th, Yoon Geon-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced that he, along with fellow party member Min Hyung-bae, will propose an amendment to the Public Official Election Act, known as the 'Restoration of Trust in National Assembly Members Act,' which prohibits National Assembly members from serving four consecutive terms.

The amendment stipulates that anyone elected three consecutive times, including proportional representation and district elections, cannot register as a candidate for the National Assembly at all.

Considering opposition from already multi-term members, an exception clause was included that treats current National Assembly members at the time of the law's enforcement as having been elected only once.

It is also reported that some first-term members of the United Future Party who sympathize with the purpose of the law have expressed their intention to sign the proposed bill.

Representative Yoon explained the reason for the proposal, saying, "It is a time when bold decisions are necessary for politics to regain trust from the people and to create a working National Assembly," and added, "A special measure is needed for National Assembly members themselves to voluntarily give up vested interests."

Representative Min said, "Until now, the ban on four consecutive terms was only applied to local government heads, but although late, applying it to the National Assembly as well is to uphold the will of the citizens," and added, "I hope this will be the starting point of political reform that helps the emergence of new politicians."