[Change the Election] ① Im Mi-ae Fighting Under the Democratic Party Flag in TK

End Winner-Takes-All in 2023
Political Structure Where Even Strong Performance in TK Ends Up as Wasted Vote
"Democratic Party Must Take Lead on Political Reform Agenda"

Editor's NoteAs the general election approaches next year, discussions on electoral system reform in the political sphere have intensified. Asia Economy explores the issues of the current electoral district system and seeks reasonable improvement measures through interviews with stakeholders related to the ongoing electoral system reform discussions.

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] "We also want to cast living votes, not wasted votes anymore."

Im Mi-ae, Chairperson of the Democratic Party of Korea's Gyeongbuk Provincial Committee, pointed out the political structure in which Democratic Party candidates in Gyeongbuk received as much as 35% and at least over 14% of the votes in the last general election, but all these achievements resulted in zero elected candidates. Because the single-member district system is adopted, where the candidate with even one vote more than the second place wins, all votes for Democratic candidates in the Gyeongbuk region become wasted votes. At the time when discussions on electoral system reform have become full-fledged, she repeatedly emphasized, "This time, we really have to change it."

Chairperson Im attached great significance to the fact that the political sphere has actively engaged in discussions on the electoral district system more than a year ahead of next year's general election. Regarding the fact that discussions on electoral district reform flared up after President Yoon Seok-yeol mentioned the multi-member district system in his New Year's interview, she said, "It's pleasing that there was a response to the topic we've been talking about," but stressed, "However, the discussion should not be trapped in whether to adopt the multi-member district system or not. The essence of President Yoon's remarks is that 'political reform is necessary, and for that, the electoral system must be changed.' We must start from here."

Regarding the multi-member district system mentioned by President Yoon, Chairperson Im diagnosed, "A simple multi-member district system makes the electoral districts too large, and candidates must break through with their personal competitiveness. Looking at the case in Japan, popular figures inevitably get elected, and it becomes easier for wealthy and well-organized people." She also expressed concerns about potential drawbacks in the candidate nomination process. She pointed out, "If nominations are made based on factional interests and the structure almost guarantees election, the innovativeness of politics will further decline," adding, "In this case, compared to the single-member district system, there is no improvement."

Chairperson Im proposed a regional open-list proportional representation system as a way to overcome regionalism. She explained, "The electoral system should be reformed so that electoral districts are grouped by region, and the number of elected representatives changes according to the party's vote share," and added, "I have advocated a method where voters look at the list of candidates nominated by the party and vote for individuals, and seats are allocated according to the party's vote share based on the order of the list." This is because the party must be at the center of the election for policy competition to ultimately take place. Among the currently discussed electoral law amendment bills, the proposal by Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ju-min is the closest to this."

Regarding voices that the introduction of the multi-member district system is difficult in rural areas with low population, she criticized, "This is a trick to avoid electoral law reform." She said, "They say it's difficult because the electoral districts become too large in rural areas, but this is just an excuse blaming voters," and added, "(In Gyeongbuk) four counties are already grouped to elect one member of the National Assembly." In fact, in Gyeongbuk, Gunwi, Uiseong, Cheongsong, and Yeongdeok are grouped into one electoral district. Since representation based on administrative districts has already lost much significance, there is no reason to keep the single-member district system citing rural areas as a reason.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

She also argued that the Democratic Party should rather take the initiative in electoral district reform. She pointed out, "Democratic Party supporters claim that 'the Democratic Party can win in the metropolitan area with the single-member district system,' but who can guarantee that the Democratic Party will achieve a landslide victory in the metropolitan area in the next general election?" She said, "The proportion of people who dislike both this party and that party is gradually increasing," and added, "The focus should be on winning their hearts," and "We can show them good politics." Chairperson Im said, "The Democratic Party also needs to express its will regarding electoral system reform in some way," and added, "Just saying that the multi-member district system has problems is amateurish. Whether President Yoon drives reform or not, the Democratic Party should think about and prepare what system can most rationally reflect the will of the people and present it to the public."

Chairperson Im ran for governor of Gyeongbuk in the last local election but lost with 22% of the vote. Having stood against regionalism in Gyeongbuk under the Democratic Party's name, she recently expressed her desperate feelings at a forum held in the National Assembly, saying, "The core of political reform is electoral system reform, and the National Assembly must keep the law to delineate electoral districts by April."