Will Roh Moo-hyun's Dream Come True... The 'Large Constituency System' Debate Heating Up in the New Year (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The political world is abuzz over the political reform vision 'Large Multi-member Constituency System' proposed by President Yoon Suk-yeol in his New Year interview. While some predict a reorganization from the existing two-party system to a multi-party system capable of cooperation, concerns have also been raised that the dominance of existing parties may intensify and that large constituencies covering one-fifth of the national territory could emerge. There are also forecasts that the pros and cons among incumbent lawmakers will make it difficult to introduce the system easily.

Abolishing the Two-Party and Regional Structure is 'Roh Moo-hyun's Dream'

Former President Roh Moo-hyun
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 4th, former National Assembly Secretary-General Yoo In-tae stated on KBS's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs' that "Electoral system reform was also the dream of Roh Moo-hyun (former president). There is a certain excitement that 'Roh Moo-hyun's dream' might be realized this time," emphasizing the need for political reform through the Large Multi-member Constituency System.

The reason Yoo referred to the Large Multi-member Constituency System as 'Roh Moo-hyun's dream' can be found in his first policy speech 20 years ago. At that time, former President Roh said the following in his policy speech.

The regional structure must be resolved. Our politics cannot move forward a single step if the regional structure remains as it is. From the next general election, I ask the ruling and opposition parties to agree and amend the election law so that no specific party can monopolize more than two-thirds of the seats in a specific region. If my proposal is realized in the 17th general election next year, I will transfer the authority to form the cabinet to the party or political coalition that holds the majority of seats. (Ministry of the Interior and Safety Presidential Archives)

The 'system to prevent a specific party from monopolizing more than two-thirds of the seats in a specific region' mentioned by former President Roh could be the Large Multi-member Constituency System. Yoo In-tae predicts that if the system allows not only the first-place winner but also the second to fourth place to gain seats, parties will diversify, and a multi-party system of four to five parties will form according to the political spectrum.

He said, "If only candidates number 1 and 2 survive, parties will first diversify. How can former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min and former leader Lee Jun-seok go along with the People Power Party? The Democratic Party of Korea also needs to stop fighting over 'watermelons' and 'dog daughters' and set up separate households."

Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Min-seok also emphasized the need for reform on the same day on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' saying, "The person who most strongly raised the issue of abolishing the small constituency system was former President Roh," adding, "We may suffer losses in the metropolitan area, and it may cause internal party confusion, but unless we overcome this problem of politics becoming too hostile, politics will continue to be distrusted."

The National Assembly Begins Discussions... Concerns Over 'Intensified Monopoly'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Discussions on electoral district reform must be completed one year before the general election. Considering that the 22nd general election will be held on April 10, 2024, discussions must be concluded by April 10 this year to introduce the Large Multi-member Constituency System in next year's election. Less than 100 days remain. The National Assembly has entered full-scale discussions.

The body discussing electoral district reform in the National Assembly is the Special Committee on Political Reform (Jeonggae Special Committee). Nam In-soon, a Democratic Party lawmaker and chairperson of the committee, said, "The agenda on the electoral system agreed upon by the ruling and opposition floor leaders is 'improvement of the mixed-member proportional representation system.' Various proposals have been made, and since increasing proportional representation inevitably reduces constituency seats, there is a proposal to change it to a Large Multi-member Constituency System, which we have reviewed." So far, the Special Committee has shortlisted 11 proposals related to the Public Official Election Act. Nam added, "Many lawmakers have also submitted additional bills, and once those bills are referred, we will discuss them."

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "The Democratic Party will also engage in electoral system reform considering where the people's demands lie and what helps political development. We have formed a Political Innovation Committee within the party and are currently gathering opinions from various lawmakers."

However, whether this system can truly break the two-party and regional structure and fulfill 'Roh Moo-hyun's dream' remains uncertain. There are also criticisms that it could block the entry of political newcomers. Park said, "The Large Multi-member Constituency System has the downside of solidifying the vested interests centered on senior lawmakers. Although senior lawmakers have been in politics for a long time and are well-known, it is a difficult electoral system for new politicians to enter."

Kim Jae-won, former Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, suggested on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' that even if the system is introduced, it might deviate from its intended purpose, saying, "The Democratic Party pushed for the introduction of the mixed-member proportional representation system to enforce investigative authority adjustments, claiming it would favor small parties, but it ended up backfiring."

Concerns have also been raised that a single electoral district could become excessively large. Kim said, "One electoral district in Gangwon Province covers about one-seventeenth of our country's territory, and if the Large Multi-member Constituency System is adopted, there could be electoral districts covering about one-fifth of the country's territory."