[Politics That Day] How Did Jo Jeonghun Become a Member of the National Assembly with Democratic Party Support Votes?

21st General Election, Jo Jeonghun of Sidaecheon Joins the Together Citizens Party
Receives Proportional Representation Number 6
Wins National Assembly Seat with Support from Democratic Party-Leaning Voters

Editor's Note‘On That Day in Politics’ is a series planning corner that looks back on Korean politics through the ‘recollection of memories’ related to notable scenes, events, or figures.

As Jo Jeong-hoon, a member of the Transition Korea party, joined the People Power Party, interest in his process of entering the National Assembly has also grown. Politician Jo Jeong-hoon becoming a member of the National Assembly is related to the complex and delicate political situation during the 21st general election in 2020.

The ‘semi-proportional representation system’ introduced by both ruling and opposition parties as part of political reform brought about positive aspects of the system as well as side effects. As a result, the Democratic Party of Korea and the United Future Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) exposed a shameful aspect of political history with their proportional satellite parties.

The United Future Party created a satellite party called the Future Korea Party, and the Democratic Party responded with a satellite party called the Together Citizens’ Party. As can be seen from the party names, party names were used to imprint each other’s political identities.

They gave a signal that their satellite party was this party so that voters would not get confused. The semi-proportional representation system included provisions that the United Future Party and the Democratic Party, expected to receive the majority of the public’s votes, would be placed behind in the allocation of proportional representation seats.

On April 2, 2020, the official election campaign for the 21st National Assembly election began. Lee Nak-yeon, the Standing Election Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the "Democratic Party of Korea-Democratic Citizens' Party 21st General Election Central Election Committee Joint Launch Ceremony" held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The purpose of introducing the system was to prevent wasted votes, a drawback of the so-called single-member district system, to help minority parties enter the National Assembly and to increase political diversity. However, the major parties that were about to lose seats nullified the purpose of the semi-proportional representation system through a detour by creating satellite parties.

However, they could not openly admit that they were satellite parties. Although anyone could see the characteristics of satellite parties, they tried hard to secure justification for founding the parties. The Together Citizens’ Party claimed the justification of opening its doors to parties representing various fields and political forces. The Future Korea Party’s justification for founding was not much different.

Several parties that ordinary people had never heard of before weighed joining the so-called satellite parties. If they had just run in the general election, securing seats would have been practically difficult, but the introduction of the semi-proportional representation system opened up political activity space.

Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Lee In-young, floor leader, and Woo Hee-jong, election committee chairman of the Democratic Citizens' Party, are placing election stickers on the elected candidates at the comprehensive vote counting situation room set up in the National Assembly. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Jo Jeong-hoon’s Transition Korea participated in the Together Citizens’ Party. The proportional representation candidates of the Together Citizens’ Party were structured to become members of the National Assembly by receiving votes from Democratic Party supporters. Along with experts from various fields, two party leaders participated in the Together Citizens’ Party: Yong Hye-in, leader of the Basic Income Party, and Jo Jeong-hoon, co-leader of Transition Korea.

Besides the Basic Income Party and Transition Korea, four parties including the Green Party Korea and the Go! Peace and Human Rights Party declared participation in the Together Citizens’ Party. The proportional representation candidates recommended by these parties were reviewed two to three per party.

The reason for giving meaning to recommendations from minority parties was the justification of respecting diversity, which was the founding purpose of the Together Citizens’ Party. Considering external criticism that it was a satellite party, the Together Citizens’ Party put effort into securing political justification.

Based on the review process, the proportional representation candidate list of the Together Citizens’ Party was finalized on March 24, 2023. The entire list consisted of 35 people, but there were ongoing controversies about hasty verification during the review process. It was pointed out that the verification time per candidate was only about 10 minutes. It is known that the nomination management committee conducted the review based on candidates’ submitted materials, internet searches, and phone confirmations.

On the 21st, Jo Jeong-hoon, a member of the Shift for a New Society party who declared a merger with the People Power Party, is taking a commemorative photo with Representative Kim Ki-hyun and others at the 'People Power Party Accompaniment Pledge Ceremony' held at the Gomdallae Cultural Welfare Center in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Jo Jeong-hoon, co-leader of Transition Korea, received the 6th position on the proportional representation list. Yong Hye-in, leader of the Basic Income Party, received the 5th position. Jo Jeong-hoon’s 6th position was the third highest ranking among men. The 6th position on the proportional list was a front-rank number likely to be elected barring any surprises.

In fact, the Future Korea Party, the satellite party of the United Future Party, had candidates elected up to the 19th position on the proportional list. The Together Citizens’ Party also had candidates elected up to the 17th position. Democratic Party supporters were torn between the Together Citizens’ Party and the Open Democratic Party, but ultimately concentrated their votes on the Together Citizens’ Party, resulting in many elected members.

Jo Jeong-hoon, ranked 6th on the proportional list, comfortably secured a winning position. After the 20th general election ended on April 15, 2020, various analyses of the election results followed. Regardless of the election results, the satellite party controversy left a ‘shadow of politics.’

Those elected by receiving votes from Democratic Party supporters mostly joined the Democratic Party after the general election.

Yong Hye-in has been active as a member of the Basic Income Party and continues to maintain her party affiliation. Jo Jeong-hoon is expected to act as a member of the People Power Party following the merger of Transition Korea and the People Power Party.

On the morning of the 21st, at the ‘Joint Pledge Ceremony’ between the People Power Party and Transition Korea, Jo Jeong-hoon said, "Today, I came here to pledge joint cooperation with the leadership of the People Power Party. I will accept criticism directed at me. You may criticize me harshly and strike me hard. If that can open the path to unity, I will gladly endure it."