"Democratic Party Receives 5.88 Billion Won, People Power Party 5.41 Billion Won... Election Commission Distributes Q3 Subsidies"

Cho Kuk Innovation Party Receives 1.1 Billion Won,
Reform Party and Progressive Party Each Receive Over 300 Million Won

The Central Election Management Committee announced on August 14 that it had distributed approximately 13.09 billion won in quarterly operating subsidies to seven political parties represented in the National Assembly for the third quarter of this year.

The Democratic Party of Korea, which holds 166 seats in the National Assembly, received 5.87919 billion won, accounting for 44.89% of the total subsidy. The People Power Party, with 107 seats, was allocated 5.41270 billion won, or 41.33% of the total.

The Cho Kuk Innovation Party received 1.12115 billion won (8.56%), the Reform Party 351.76 million won (2.69%), the Progressive Party 312.74 million won (2.39%), and both the Basic Income Party and the Social Democratic Party each received 9.13 million won (0.07%).

Central Election Management Committee located in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do Photo by Yonhap News

The operating subsidy is calculated by multiplying the total number of eligible voters in the most recent National Assembly election by the subsidy unit amount (1,183 won), determining the total, and then dividing it quarterly to distribute to eligible parties in February, May, August, and November.

According to the Political Funds Act, 50% of the total subsidy is first distributed to parties that have formed negotiation groups in the National Assembly. Parties with between five and nineteen seats receive 5% of the total each. Among parties with fewer than five seats, those that meet the vote share requirement in the most recent election are each allocated 2% of the total.

Of the remaining balance, half is distributed based on the proportion of National Assembly seats, and the other half according to each party's share of votes in the 22nd National Assembly election.

Parties receiving the operating subsidy are required to allocate at least 30% of the total to policy research institutes, at least 10% to city and provincial party branches, at least 10% to the advancement of women in politics, and at least 5% to the advancement of youth in politics.