Justice Party: "Election District Reform Delayed Again... Problem Lies in Two Major Parties' Indifferent Attitude"

Urgent Call for a Breakthrough Agreement on Expanding Multi-Member Constituencies

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The Justice Party criticized the failure of the ruling and opposition parties to agree on the redistricting issue, stating that "institutional reforms for national unity have been postponed once again." At the same time, it urged both parties to promptly reach an agreement on expanding the multi-member district system for local councils and enacting laws to prevent the splitting of electoral districts.

On the 3rd, Lee Eun-ju, Chairperson of the Justice Party's Special Committee on Political Reform, held a press conference at the National Assembly and said, "In the end, no agreement was reached."

She stated, "Political reforms in Korean society have so far been aimed at enhancing representativeness and proportionality. The introduction of the semi-proportional representation system was such an example, as was the 2005 bipartisan agreement to introduce the multi-member district system for local councils to overcome the one-party dominance in local governments and to reflect the diverse voices of minority parties in the assembly."

She continued, "Changes must start from local councils through the expansion of the multi-member district system and prevention of electoral district splitting. Although both parties claim there is not enough time, their indifferent attitude is the real problem."

Addressing the People Power Party, Lee urged, "As the prospective ruling party, the People Power Party has an immense responsibility for national unity and must promptly accept the expansion of the multi-member district system for local councils and the bill to prevent electoral district splitting." She pointed out that President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol and transition committee chairman Ahn Cheol-soo mentioned multi-member districts and a multi-party system during the presidential campaign, but "now that the election is over, their convictions are not reflected at all in the prospective ruling party's negotiation proposals."

She also criticized the Democratic Party of Korea, saying, "As the current ruling party and the largest party, the Democratic Party bears greater responsibility in the current deadlock. If this was not an issue thrown out just to break the election phase, they should have responsibly presented a strategy on how to lead the negotiations."

Finally, she emphasized, "The longer the agreement is delayed, the more difficult it becomes for local election candidates and voters who do not know their local candidates. I want to make it clear once again that what is needed now is a progressive decision from both parties."