Rep. Hwang Ju-hong Urges Introduction of Special Electoral Districts for Rural and Coastal Areas

Guaranteeing Representation for Rural and Non-Capital Districts

Minshengdang Representative Hwang Ju-hong (Goheung, Boseong, Jangheung, Gangjin)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Assemblyman Hwang Ju-hong (Chairman of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, Minsaeng Party, Goheung·Boseong·Jangheung·Gangjin) recently called for the introduction of special electoral districts for rural and local areas as an exception to the 'population upper and lower limits for the April 15 general election electoral district delineation' proposed by the Central Election Commission's Electoral District Delimitation Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Delimitation Committee), he announced on the 2nd.

The Central Election Commission's Electoral District Delimitation Committee (hereinafter the Delimitation Committee) presented the electoral district delineation standards (lower limit 136,565 people, upper limit 273,129 people) on the 21st of last month.

However, the Delimitation Committee has overlooked the representativeness of rural and local constituencies and set the standards solely based on population, causing deep concern and regret among Assemblyman Hwang, other candidates running for the general election, and residents of rural areas.

In an era of low birth rates and aging population, many relatively underdeveloped rural and local cities are facing the risk of extinction due to the population cliff.

Electoral district delineation based solely on population, without considering balanced national development, results in grouping as few as 2-3 or as many as 4-5 regions into one distorted giant electoral district in National Assembly elections, and this problem is repeating again in the current electoral district delineation.

In response, Assemblyman Hwang Ju-hong strongly urged, “We strongly call for the adoption of at least one special rural and local electoral district in each province excluding the metropolitan area, including Gangwon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam, to delineate electoral districts.” He emphasized, “We oppose electoral district delineation based solely on population and ignoring rural and local areas, and to solve the urgent task of balanced national development, special rural and local electoral districts must be established immediately.”

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