The Outline of General Election Symbols Emerges... Final Competition Over Numbers 3, 5, and 8

Democratic Union Secures 10 Incumbents
Saemirae 5 Members... Justice Party Closely Chasing
Reform New Party No.7, Joguk New Party No.8 Compete

With the 22nd National Assembly elections just three weeks away, the final competition over party proportional representation numbers is heating up. The two major parties plan to keep the possibility of recruiting incumbent lawmakers open until the end in order to secure number 3 on the proportional representation ballot, the first slot, through 'lawmaker swapping,' while third zone parties aim for number 5.

According to political circles on the 18th, the Democratic Party of Korea decided to additionally place lawmakers Lee Yong-bin and Lee Hyung-seok in the opposition proportional party, the Democratic Union (Minjuyeonhap). This is a follow-up measure after the previous day’s party meeting where the Democratic Party agreed to send proportional representatives Kang Min-jung, Kwon In-sook, Kim Kyung-man, Kim Ui-gyeom, Yang Yi-won-young, and Lee Dong-joo to Minjuyeonhap. As a result, the number of incumbent lawmakers belonging to Minjuyeonhap will increase to a total of 10, including co-representative lawmaker Yoon Young-duk and New Progressive Union proportional representative Yong Hye-in.

The People Power Party’s proportional party, People’s Future, currently has a total of 8 incumbents placed. These include proportional lawmakers Kim Ye-ji, Jung Kyung-hee, Kim Geun-tae, Kim Eun-hee, Noh Yong-ho, Woo Shin-gu, Lee Jong-sung, and Ji Sung-ho. If things continue as they are, Minjuyeonhap is likely to receive proportional party number 3, and People’s Future number 4. However, the People Power Party may additionally carry out so-called 'lawmaker swapping' with People’s Future during the remaining period.

On the 13th, ballot counting administrative staff participating in the "Mock Ballot Counting Practice for the 22nd National Assembly Election" held at the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission in Jongno-gu, Seoul, are practicing operating the ballot sorter. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

The reason each party competes until the last moment over proportional numbers is because it is generally believed that the earlier the number, the more advantageous it is in the election. As in the 21st general election, the two major parties are not fielding proportional representatives in this election, so securing number 3 means occupying the first slot on the proportional representation ballot. Proportional numbers are determined based on the number of incumbents as of the candidate registration deadline on the 22nd. This is why each party is striving to secure even one more incumbent during the remaining period.

The competition for number 5 among third parties is even fiercer. Actually receiving the third slot on the ballot is expected to provide significant advantages for new parties. As of today, number 5 belongs to the Green Justice Party, which has 6 incumbents including floor leader Shim Sang-jung, Kang Eun-mi, Bae Jin-kyo, Yang Kyung-gyu, Lee Ja-sumin, and Jang Hye-young. Following closely behind is the New Future Party led by co-representative Lee Nak-yeon. New Future increased its incumbents to 5 by recruiting lawmaker Oh Young-hwan, who left the Democratic Party the day before, joining Kim Jong-min, Park Young-soon, Seol Hoon, and Hong Young-pyo. If New Future recruits additional lawmakers who defect from the Democratic Party during the final nomination process, it could surpass the Green Justice Party. The Reform New Party, which secured lawmakers Yang Jung-sook, Yang Hyang-ja, Lee Won-wook, and Cho Eung-cheon, is expected to receive number 7.

Proportional party number 8 is also drawing attention. The Jo Guk Innovation Party, led by former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, secured one incumbent by recruiting lawmaker Hwang Un-ha. The Liberty Unification Party also has one incumbent, lawmaker Hwang Bo Seung-hee, who left the People Power Party, matching the Jo Guk Innovation Party. When the number of incumbents is the same and there are no previous election vote counts, the number is decided by lottery.