Lee Jun-seok: "Abolishing the Semi-Linked Proportional Representation System Aligns with a Multi-Party System"

"Only Party Interests Considered at Introduction"
"All Election Methods Present Strange Situations"
"Electoral District Discussions Face Challenges as Local Elections Near"

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 21st and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, expressed on the 23rd that "the semi-proportional representation system should be considered for abolition" in relation to the multi-party political reform issue that has arisen ahead of the June 1 local elections. He pointed out that maintaining the semi-proportional representation system contradicts the goal of realizing a multi-party system.

On the same day, during a meeting with Lee Young-guk, leader of the Justice Party, Lee said, "At the time of introducing the semi-proportional representation system, the vote was conducted based only on each party's interests, resulting in a non-permanent system. As discussions proceeded sporadically, South Korea is now in a peculiar situation where the methods for electing basic council members, metropolitan council members, and National Assembly members are all different." He added, "I hope the Special Committee on Political Reform (Jeonggae Special Committee) studies a sustainable system."

This meeting was arranged at the request of Lee Young-guk to urge amendments to the Public Official Election Act, including the introduction of a multi-member constituency system. Lee Young-guk said to Lee Jun-seok, "From this local election, please make a significant decision on amending the Public Official Election Act so that the path to multi-party democracy can open a little more, with the People Power Party as the prospective ruling party." In response, Lee Jun-seok said, "I am a person who prefers the multi-member constituency system," but also drew a line by saying, "I sympathize with the party's internal perception that there may be difficulties in determining electoral districts with the local elections imminent."

On the same day, Lee Young-guk delivered the five major policy tasks of the Presidential Transition Committee to Lee Jun-seok. These included policy tasks to overcome inequality, such as the 'Citizen Minimum Income Guarantee of 1 million won,' 'National Hospital Fee Cap of 1 million won,' 'Application of the Labor Standards Act and Serious Accident Punishment Act to workplaces with fewer than five employees,' and the 'Four-day Workweek,' which were pledged by Justice Party candidate Sim Sang-jung during the presidential election period. Lee Jun-seok responded, "I will deliver these to the transition committee for review."