Pilot Introduction of Large Electoral Districts in Local Elections... '3 to 5 Basic Councilors' Elected in 11 Areas

Cho Hae-jin, Chair of the 1st Subcommittee of the Special Committee on Political Reform, is reporting the review results of the Public Official Election Act and the local election district system reform at the plenary meeting of the Special Committee on Political Reform held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 15th. 2022.4.15 Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] On June 1, during the local elections, the multi-member district system for basic councilors will be piloted in 11 electoral districts nationwide.

The National Assembly's Special Committee on Political Reform held a plenary session at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 15th and passed the revision bill of the Public Official Election Act containing this content.

The current law stipulates that the number of basic councilors is between 2 and 4, but this will be revised to between 3 and 5. This is intended to lower the entry barriers for minor parties. The areas where the pilot will be introduced based on the National Assembly electoral districts are Seocho-gap, Seoul (People Power Party's Joeunhee), Seongbuk-gap, Seoul (Democratic Party's Kim Young-bae), Dongdaemun-eul, Seoul (Democratic Party's Jang Kyung-tae), Gangseo-eul, Seoul (Democratic Party's Jin Sung-jun), Yongin-jeong, Gyeonggi (Democratic Party's Lee Tan-hee), Namyangju-byeong, Gyeonggi (Democratic Party's Kim Yong-min), Guri, Gyeonggi (Democratic Party's Yoon Ho-jung), Dong-gu, Incheon (Democratic Party's Heo Jong-sik), Suseong-eul, Daegu (People Power Party's Hong Joon-pyo), Nonsan-Geumsan-Gyeryong, Chungnam (Democratic Party's Kim Jong-min), and Gwangsan-eul, Gwangju (Democratic Party's Min Hyung-bae), totaling 11 locations.

Additionally, the Special Committee on Political Reform passed a revision bill of the Public Official Election Act that deletes the clause allowing the division of 4-member electoral districts. The number of metropolitan councilors will be increased by 39, and the number of basic councilors will be increased by 51. The revision bill of the Public Official Election Act must pass the Legislation and Judiciary Committee review and then the final plenary session on the same day.