Lee Eun-ju, Min Hyung-bae, Kim Jong-min Propose Electoral District Reform Plans
Including Reducing Constituencies and Increasing Proportional Representation
[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] As part of political reform, plans to restructure the current single-member district system into a multi-member district system are being discussed, while opposition parties have been consecutively proposing bills to reduce and maintain the current single-member district system by decreasing the number of constituency members and increasing proportional representatives. There appears to be growing support for strengthening regional proportional representation systems rather than adopting a multi-member district system.
According to the National Assembly Legislative Information System on the 13th, among the eight Public Official Election Act amendment bills proposed this year, three submitted by Representatives Lee Eun-ju, Min Hyung-bae, and Kim Jong-min respectively include provisions to significantly increase the number of proportional representatives. These bills have drawn attention as opposition lawmakers have unveiled their political reform plans amid heated discussions on electoral reform, supported by President Yoon Seok-yeol and National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo earlier this year.
First, the amendment proposed by Lee Eun-ju, floor leader of the Justice Party, includes increasing the total number of National Assembly members from the current 300 to 360. According to this proposal, the number of constituency members would be reduced from 253 to 240, while the number of proportional representatives would increase from 47 to 120. The proportional representatives would be determined by a mixed-member proportional system, where seats allocated to parties are distributed based on the total number of seats won according to vote share minus the number of constituency seats won. A Justice Party official explained, "This proposal is effectively the party's official stance."
The bill submitted by Kim Jong-min of the Democratic Party also aims to strengthen proportional representation. To address the satellite party issues that arose in the last general election, it proposes introducing a parallel proportional representation system where constituency members and proportional representatives are elected separately, increasing the number of proportional representatives to 150. Additionally, the country would be divided into 15 regions, each electing about 10 members through regional proportional representation. As the number of proportional seats increases, the number of constituency members would decrease to 150.
Independent Representative Min Hyung-bae's proposal changes the number of constituency and proportional representatives to 150 each and introduces a regional proportional representation system. Unlike Kim's proposal, it maintains the current mixed-member proportional system, which links party vote shares to constituency seats.
Earlier, the Democratic Party adopted a resolution at the August 28 party convention last year titled "Resolution for National Unity and Political Change," pledging to complete political reforms by April this year, including a mixed-member proportional system to prevent satellite parties and a regional proportional representation system to guarantee "multi-party coalition politics."
Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung also expressed a negative stance on reforming the electoral system at a New Year's press conference the day before, stating, "The presidential system is more compatible with the single-member district system, while the multi-member district system is somewhat more compatible with the parliamentary system." Regarding President Yoon's mention of the multi-member district system, he said, "President Yoon is also interested in establishing an electoral system that ensures vote equality and truly represents the people's will," adding, "Proposing the multi-member district system is one method, but it does not mean that it is the only option." He further stated, "I am skeptical that the multi-member district system is the sole solution, and since there are many other methods such as regional proportional representation, I hope that all possible systems will be thoroughly discussed and explored by both ruling and opposition parties to meet the public's expectations."
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