Kim Jin-pyo: "If no unified proposal emerges at the National Assembly's full committee on election law revision, discussions may continue"

Expressing Support for the 'Mixed Urban-Rural Large Constituency System'

Speaker of the National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo hinted on the 27th that the deadline for the plenary committee's activities might be extended if a final proposal for electoral system reform is not reached. Regarding the electoral system reform, Speaker Kim expressed support for the proposal combining a mixed urban-rural large multi-member district system with a regional proportional representation system.

On the same day, during an appearance on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus," Kim said, "The National Assembly's Special Committee on Political Reform has already created three exemplary discussion proposals that can be debated in the plenary committee and submitted them to the plenary session," adding, "The plenary committee will be successful only if a single unified proposal is produced. Otherwise, we will have to either continue the plenary committee or use other methods."

The ruling and opposition parties have agreed to hold the plenary committee for two weeks starting from the 30th to discuss amendments to the election law. Speaker Kim, People Power Party floor leader Joo Ho-young, and Democratic Party floor leader Park Hong-geun agreed during a meeting on the 23rd to "process a single revised bill through bipartisan consensus" regarding the election law amendment.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Speaker Kim's remarks appear to indicate that while the plenary committee will be held for two weeks, the activity period of the plenary committee could be extended if no consensus is reached.

Regarding the three electoral district reform proposals adopted as resolutions by the Special Committee on Political Reform, Speaker Kim expressed support for the mixed urban-rural large multi-member district system combined with a regional proportional representation system. The committee also included proposals such as an open-list large multi-member district system with nationwide parallel proportional representation and a single-member district system with regional semi-linked proportional representation in the resolutions.

During the explanation of the intent behind the three proposals, when the host mentioned that Speaker Kim seemed to prefer the mixed urban-rural large multi-member district system combined with a regional proportional representation system, Kim said, "I try to remain neutral if possible, but if it (the adoption of the large multi-member district system plus regional proportional representation) happens, I think this electoral reform will be quite successful," effectively expressing his support.

Regarding the Constitutional Court ruling on the Prosecutors' Office Act, which limits prosecutors' investigative authority (commonly known as the "complete prosecution reform" law), Speaker Kim said, "The Constitutional Court's decision must naturally be respected," adding, "Although the ruling can be interpreted differently depending on one's stance, it was a reasonable judgment." He continued, "As Speaker, I will ensure that through more thorough discussions and debates among the negotiation groups, legislation is created not only in terms of content but also in procedure that the majority of the public can agree with."