[Why & Next]③ Busy with seat calculations, ruling and opposition parties... Just beating around the bush?

Electoral District Redistricting Is a Multi-layered Front
Consensus on Single-member District Reform
Differences in the Rules of the Detailed Game

[Asia Economy Reporters Naju-seok and Lee Hyun-joo] The issue of the electoral system is forming a highly complex front. Broadly, there are positions advocating for increasing proportional representation seats versus increasing constituency seats, discussions on the introduction of a multi-member district system and expansion of proportional representation, and differences in stance between the ruling and opposition parties.

With President Yoon Seok-yeol bringing up the multi-member district system, the ruling party seems inclined toward it, while the Democratic Party has proposed a mixed-member proportional representation system and regional proportional representation. Although there is consensus on the need to improve the single-member district system, there are differences in detailed institutional design. The core issue underlying the problem is whether lawmakers will gain or lose from the changes.

One Year Before the General Election... Electoral Reform Will Not Be Easy

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to political circles on the 9th, there is widespread anticipation that electoral reform will not be easy regardless of party lines. This is due to the perception that it is difficult to reach a conclusion on this issue, which involves sharply conflicting political interests. There is an underlying empirical belief that electoral law revisions that overturn the election landscape cannot be made one year before the election.

For example, in the 21st general election held on April 15, 2020, the electoral law (introduction of a semi-proportional representation system) was barely finalized on December 23, 2019. In the case of the 20th general election held on April 13, 2016, the electoral law (increasing the number of National Assembly members from 299 to 300) was passed in the plenary session only on March 2, 2016. Since election-related regulations become variables that determine the existence of individual lawmakers' constituencies and their election outcomes, the delineation of the electoral system was discussed amid intense negotiations akin to brinkmanship.

Because of this, there is skepticism throughout the political world about the possibility of passing electoral laws one year before the election. However, Speaker Kim Jin-pyo has expressed the position that "by February at the latest, the Special Committee on Political Reform should produce multiple proposals, and based on these, a plenary committee should create a proposal supported by more than 200 lawmakers within a month." Whether the practice of last-minute rushes can be overcome remains uncertain.

A senior three-term lawmaker from the People Power Party predicted, "After June this year, it will become difficult to achieve electoral system reform beyond mere improvements." Once the full-scale general election phase begins, as the ruling-opposition dynamics and dominant public opinion emerge and lawmakers form expectations about election outcomes, everyone tends to approach electoral reform as a matter of 'survival' rather than bold political renewal or reform.

Diverse Solutions in Competition

On the 1st, the day of the 8th nationwide local elections, voters are casting their precious votes at the 5th polling station of Bukgajwa 2-dong, set up at the coffee shop SANMEAG in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

The ruling People Power Party has expressed a position to start cautious discussions as proposed by President Yoon, but the atmosphere of burden is clear. On the 6th, after a party caucus meeting, Party Floor Leader Joo Ho-young told reporters, "The various problems of the single-member district system have been exposed for too long, so there is a need to reform the electoral system," adding, "Once Emergency Committee Chairperson Jeong Jin-seok returns, we will further the internal discussions to see if party opinions can be unified." He also urged the Democratic Party, "In the next general election, please set aside considerations of advantage or disadvantage and, if it aligns with the direction Korean politics should take and can improve the problems in Korean politics, please come together with a magnanimous spirit."

Emergency Committee Chairperson Jeong Jin-seok of the People Power Party expressed a negative stance. On the 5th, he stated on his Facebook, "When implementing the multi-member district system electing from two to five members, factional politics within parties intensified as they competed for nomination rights. To prevent this harm, we returned to the single-member district system, which is evaluated to have alleviated factional politics within parties." A lawmaker from the Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) region also said, "Since regional dynamics do not break instantly, to win the election next year, candidates will likely attack members of their own party rather than the opposition to easily gain votes."

The Democratic Party also showed lukewarm reactions. Party leader Lee Jae-myung said at a meeting on the 4th, "It is not appropriate to speak lightly as we are in the process of gathering internal opinions," but drew a line by adding, "A political system allowing a third choice is desirable, but I do not think it necessarily has to be the multi-member district system." Policy Committee Chair Kim Seong-hwan also said at a press briefing on the 3rd, stating it was his personal opinion, "The multi-member district system is actually a system that makes it much easier for large parties to divide seats among themselves," and "Globally, the drawbacks of the multi-member district system are greater." Pro-Moon Jae-in lawmaker Yoon Geon-young also pointed out, "You cannot think of the multi-member district system as a panacea."

Some view that President Yoon bringing up the electoral district system has made discussions more difficult. The discussion on electoral reform itself has become a political issue. Kim Ki-sik, director of the The Future Research Institute, said, "Although the president's mention triggered the discussion, the discussion itself has become more difficult," adding, "This issue has become a political matter." Kim said, "President Yoon calls for innovative political reform, but it can be distorted as if entrenched interests in Yeouido are resisting," and "Moreover, now that the economy is difficult and the government and ruling party are on the defensive, this political agenda can shift attention." Regarding the multi-member district system itself, he analyzed, "It can be perceived as a power-sharing arrangement."