[K-Women Talk] Women's Political Participation: From "Quota" to "Equal Participation"

Ahead of next year's general election, the National Assembly has entered discussions on electoral system reform, starting with the convening of the full committee for the first time in 20 years. Last month, the National Assembly's Special Committee on Political Reform announced the results of a deliberative public survey involving 500 citizens, notably highlighting the need to increase proportional representation seats. The majority response was that this would allow for the election of diverse lawmakers, including women and youth, who can work not only for their local constituencies but for the entire nation, indicating a strong public demand for policy change.

The situation regarding women's political participation is not very favorable. The number of proportional representation seats, which are supposed to allocate more than 50% to women, stands at 47. The regulation mandating efforts to nominate 30% women in constituency seats has never been upheld. The rate of women's political participation in the National Assembly is only 19%, ranking 121st globally, far below the nation's potential. What about the qualitative aspect? Women politicians have been one of the driving forces behind significant changes in our society. They have contributed greatly to making society safer and more equal through legislation such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, the abolition of the family registry system (hojuje), protection of children and adolescents, prevention of gender-based violence including sexual violence, support for diverse family structures, the Act on the Promotion of Women's Economic Activities, and the Act on the Creation of a Family-Friendly Society. Moving forward, in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), climate change response, and pursuit of a sustainable society, the keen sensitivity and roles of women lawmakers will remain crucial in addressing contemporary agendas.

Recently, the Korean Women Parliamentarians Association, affiliated with the Speaker of the National Assembly and composed of current and former female lawmakers, has adopted the slogan of gender parity and equal participation rather than a quota system, marking a transformative shift. Since 2000, the female quota system stipulated in the Public Official Election Act has often been perceived inside and outside the National Assembly as preferential treatment for women, which has distorted its meaning. Now, regarding political participation, a perspective shift from 'quota' to 'equal political participation' is necessary. Gender parity participation should include a 40-60% standard to move toward equal numbers and also encompass the principle of diversity representing various social groups. This is because the legislature must reflect the voices of diverse citizens evenly, and lawmakers should not be ordinary professionals but representatives of diverse people.

Strengthening policy functions that support expanded participation is also necessary. For legislation promoting gender equality to be effectively enacted, bipartisan women's solidarity within and beyond parties must precede it; however, such solidarity has weakened or become rare amid escalating political conflicts since the 17th National Assembly. Furthermore, the policy foundation within parties is weak. Although each party supports gender policy issues on an issue-by-issue basis, for party policies to develop consistently, there must be a gender policy department within party policy research institutes staffed by policy experts who accumulate knowledge. The current approach, where experts temporarily gather only during elections and then disperse, relying on related organizations or groups, risks undermining party policies and, ultimately, national governance.

Additionally, a system that allows proportional representatives to focus on policy is needed. If proportional representatives engage from the start in activities aimed at challenging constituency seats, it is unlikely that their primary function?maximizing policy roles?will be realized.

The spirit of democracy (demokratia) known from ancient Greece, the earliest democracy, lies in making decisions and implementing them through dialogue and compromise for the community. Moreover, the 2015 cabinet model of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, composed of 50% women and men and including people with experiences as social minorities such as persons with disabilities and immigrants, has inspired the world. It is hoped that discussions on political reform ahead of the next general election will take a step forward in this direction.

Cha In-sun, Adjunct Professor at the National Assembly Legislative Research Institute