Uncertain Plenary Session on Electoral District Delimitation... Yoon Jae-ok: "Democrats Propose Original Plan"

The ruling and opposition parties have failed to finalize the electoral district delineation for the April 10 general election, making it uncertain whether it will be processed in the plenary session on the 29th.

On the 23rd, Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, stated, "The Democratic Party of Korea has notified us to proceed with the original plan regarding the electoral district delineation."

After the meeting on electoral district delineation held under the chairmanship of the People Power Party floor leader in the morning, Yoon said, "The Democratic Party floor leader and the special committee on political reform (Jeonggae Special Committee) secretary informed us of the Democratic Party's position," adding, "Their proposal was to follow the National Election Commission's plan for the total number of National Assembly members, constituencies, and boundary adjustments." Yoon further explained, "There were reports that the Democratic Party would not concede Busan and wanted to proceed with the original plan, but the exact notification from the Democratic Party was to proceed with everything as originally planned."

The People Power Party plans to continue negotiations with the opposition regarding the adjustment of special districts. Yoon said, "The secretaries of the special committee on political reform from both parties agreed to designate several constituencies as special districts and notified the National Election Commission," explaining, "These are constituencies with various issues arising from the creation of large electoral districts that do not match living areas, so this was a pre-agreed matter." He added, "Especially in Gangwon Province, there is a problem," noting, "A constituency covering six electoral districts will be created, and since the area is vast, our party hopes to maintain the current system."

Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the floor countermeasure meeting held at the National Assembly on the 23rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Lee Yang-su, senior deputy floor leader, also explained, "Seoul's Jongno-gu, Jung-gu, and Seongdong-gu Gap and Eul were combined by agreement between the ruling and opposition parties into one Jongno-gu and Jung-gu Seongdong-gu Gap and Eul," adding, "For Gangwon, the proposal to combine six cities and counties was changed to Chuncheon, Cheorwon, Hwacheon, Yanggu Gap and Eul, and Sokcho, Inje, Goseong, Yangyang remain as they are as a special district plan."

He continued, "A delineation plan was proposed to combine Yangju-si, Dongducheon Gap and Eul, Pocheon, Yeoncheon, and Gapyeong, but the special district plan made Yangju-si, Dongducheon-si, and Yeoncheon-gun Gap and Eul, attaching part of Yangju-si to Pocheon Gapyeong," adding, "The Democratic Party ignores all this and insists on proceeding with the plan initially sent by the electoral district delineation committee." Lee said, "This is considered a kind of rejection of the negotiation table," and added, "We will do our best until the end to ensure that the agreed plan is finally confirmed."

Earlier, the Electoral District Delineation Committee submitted a plan to the National Assembly in December last year, which included increasing six constituencies in areas such as Pyeongtaek and Hanam in Gyeonggi Province, Hwaseong, Seo-gu in Incheon, and Buk and Gangseo districts in Busan, while reducing six constituencies in Seoul's Nowon, Bucheon and Ansan in Gyeonggi Province, and Jeonbuk. They also requested the National Assembly to adjust Seoul's Jongno-gu and Jungseong-dong Gap and Eul constituencies into Jongno-gu and Jung-gu, and Seongdong-gu Gap and Eul. However, the ruling and opposition parties tentatively agreed to maintain the existing constituencies considering the political symbolism of the Jongno district. They also decided not to follow the recommendation to split Chuncheon into Chuncheon-si Gap and Eul and to combine Sokcho, Cheorwon, Hwacheon, Yanggu, Inje, and Goseong into one constituency in Gangwon Province.