Itanhee: "Democratic Party Needs 200 Seats by Forming Alliance with Rational Conservative and Progressive Opposition Parties"

Democratic Party Lawmaker: "Return to Parallel Voting System Is Regression"
"Democratic Party Should Not Create Satellite Parties"

"A coalition of 200 seats is necessary. The Democratic Party cannot do it alone."

On the 1st, Rep. Lee Tan-hee of the Democratic Party of Korea said this in an interview with MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' regarding the negotiation of the electoral system for the 22nd general election. Rep. Lee is a member of the Democratic Party who insists on preserving the current semi-proportional representation system. He has taken a last stand, risking his position to prevent regression. At the very least, he insists that the current electoral system should not be reverted to the past.

Rep. Lee explained, "The current law is called proportional representation, which guarantees 47 proportional representation seats to various parties as a kind of local market," adding, "since the 253 single-member districts are monopolized by the two major parties. This severely limits the choices for the people. Therefore, the remaining 47 seats are guaranteed to be taken by smaller parties."

Lee Tan-hee, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The semi-proportional representation system introduced in the 21st general election was designed to alleviate the seat structure that could be monopolized by the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party (then the United Future Party). It is a proportional representation election system that opens the door to third parties. However, the original purpose of the system was undermined when both the United Future Party and the Democratic Party created 'satellite parties.'

There are signs that the electoral system might revert entirely to the old system in the general election next April. If this happens, the two major parties, the Democratic Party and the People Power Party, which are far ahead in party support rates, will have an absolute advantage in securing seats. If single-member districts continue as they are and proportional representation seats are allocated according to party vote shares, the two major parties will inevitably occupy a significant portion of the total 300 seats.

Rep. Lee argued, "Electoral reform is not only off the table but is likely to become a regression. The other name for the parallel system is the two-party cartel law. If we revert to the parallel system, based on the 2020 vote shares, the two major parties combined would secure 290 seats."

Lee Tan-hee, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the plenary session of the Committee of the Whole held at the National Assembly main chamber in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 10th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Rep. Lee pointed out that even if the People Power Party prepares to establish a satellite party, the Democratic Party should not join. He emphasized that electoral system regression should be avoided, and the creation of satellite parties should be restrained.

His logic is connected to securing 200 friendly seats. Since the Democratic Party alone can at most secure around 180 seats, it is important to form 200 seats including those of reasonable conservative parties and progressive opposition parties.

Two hundred seats is enough to override President Yoon Seok-yeol's veto power on legislation. Rep. Lee explained, "As a Democratic Party member, our party's main goal in next year's general election is to minimize the basis for President Yoon Seok-yeol's exercise of veto power on legislation. In other words, to reduce it to below 100 seats as much as possible."

Rep. Lee said, "(Regarding the satellite party ban law) even if the People Power Party rejects it and President Yoon rejects it, if we say we will not create it, the legitimacy of the People Power Party's satellite party will be further weakened," urging the Democratic Party to resist the temptation of forming satellite parties.

Rep. Lee asserted, "If a coalition of 200 seats is formed, and within that coalition we take the lead as the senior partner and say we will change as well, we can definitely become the first party. Therefore, I believe we can overcome the temptation of satellite parties."

Rep. Lee emphasized the need for Democratic Party leadership in coalition by referring to the political cooperation during the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye. He said, "What I have is still my position as a member of the National Assembly. This matter is so important that I must stop it even if I have to risk it."