Five democratic, reformist, and progressive parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, agreed to expand the former multi-member district system 62 days before the June 3 local elections.
Floor leaders of five parties — the Democratic Party of Korea, Rebuilding Korea Party, The Progressive Party, Basic Income Party, and The Social Democratic Party of Korea — held a joint declaration signing ceremony on the 2nd in front of the main building of the National Assembly and agreed on political reform, including expanding the multi-member district system. Han Byung-do, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "We agreed that the June 3 local elections should be a historic turning point to heal the wounds of martial law and insurrection and to fundamentally improve the constitution of democracy."
Seo Wang-jin, floor leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, said, "This election will be an opportunity to judge the forces of insurrection and to complete the end of the insurrection," adding, "So that the cooperation pledge made by the five parties can bear fruit on Apr. 10, the Innovation Party will run even harder."
In addition, Floor Leader Seo said, "In the last local elections, we conducted a pilot program to expand the multi-member district system, and at that time it was run in 11 National Assembly constituencies, that is, 30 basic council districts," adding, "Based on that experience, in this local election we will maintain the existing three-member-or-more districts and move to further expand the pilot districts."
Han Chang-min, floor leader of The Social Democratic Party of Korea, also said of this declaration, "It is very late, but it is meaningful that even now the five parties are trying to keep at least the minimum promises," adding, "As democracy and political reform are not a finished form, politics must contemplate necessary changes while looking at people's lives and move toward solving problems."
Through this declaration, the five parties decided to expand multi-member districts in basic councils compared with the last local elections and to push for introducing multi-member districts in metropolitan councils as well. They also plan to raise the ratio of proportional representation seats in metropolitan councils from the current level of about 10%.
However, the five parties have not yet reached agreement on the areas where the multi-member district system will be implemented. Asked whether there are regions in mind for expansion, Floor Leader Han Byung-do said, "It is still difficult to speak about regions. Because there are intertwined, complex interests in each case, it would be premature to specify regions now."
To discuss electoral system reform, the five parties will launch a working-level consultative body on the 3rd and are expected to process related bills through a plenary session of the National Assembly by the 10th.