Assessment of Electoral Reforms in Korea

This paper aims to assess the recent electoral reforrns in terrns of democratic criteria. First, the new electoral system can be evaluated as reflecting democratic principles more accurately thandid le previous one; this is because the new system - the proportional representation system - perrnits voters to make choices arnong parties and candidates. Second, ùs system does not te into account the local or region distribution of electorates or local and regional specialties and identities. Third, the proportional representation system has the potential to resolve disproportionality; however, its effect is minimal. Fourth, the new rule that compels parties to offer a balanced selection of candidates, when offering their lists for the proportional representation of seats, has drastically increased the proportion of female representation in the National Assembly. However, the new electoral system also needs to be revised in order for democratic principles, especially with respect to political equa1ity, to be reflected as closely as possible. For a proportional representation election, the electoral system should be revised from a single national list of candidates to a provincebased list; moreover, it should be revised in order to increase the number of seats allocated on the basis of a proportional representation election. We need to undertake further efforts to increase the proportion of female representation in the National Assembly. In us regard, we should consider the introduction of a quota system for female representation as part of the singlemember district elections.