[The Editors' Verdict] The Proportional Representation Coalition Party Is a Double-Edged Sword

Sangbyung Park, Political Commentator

With just over a month left until the 21st general election, quite a few variables have emerged. The Democratic Party of Korea concluded on the 13th, through a vote of all party members, to participate in the 'Proportional Representation Coalition Party.' More than 74% of party members voted in favor. After the party leadership made a de facto decision, they shifted the political burden onto the members, who responded with overwhelming approval.

First, the proportional representation coalition party proposed by the Democratic Party is essentially a countermeasure against the Future United Party’s proportional party, the 'Proportional Korea Party.' The background for forming the coalition party is that they could not just stand by and watch the Future United Party’s 'trick' that nullifies the 'mixed-member proportional representation system.' There was considerable controversy within the Democratic Party during this process. Some argued from a principle standpoint that it was wrong for the Democratic Party, which had criticized such tricks, to respond with the same tactics and that they should stick to the right path. On the other hand, there was a pragmatic view that they must fight back, fearing that if they lost even the first party status, it would help the revival of the 'Pro-Park (Pro-Park Geun-hye) faction.' From the Democratic Party’s perspective, none of these views could be ignored, but ultimately the pragmatic view prevailed.

However, the road ahead is full of challenges. After undermining the mixed-member proportional system, now the harshest criticism from public opinion is that they have trampled on even the small achievements they painstakingly made by using the same trick as the Future United Party. This is the biggest obstacle. The Democratic Party emphasized the 'coalition' of centrist and reform forces as the background. They cannot just watch the Future United Party sweep all proportional seats, so they reluctantly formed the proportional representation coalition party and asked the Minsheng Party and the Justice Party to join. To emphasize their sincerity, they also added that they would only take seven lower-priority seats. If done well, it could become a 'coalition operation' of centrist and reform forces that neutralizes the Future United Party’s trick, but if mishandled, it could become a 'self-inflicted wound' that hampers even the Democratic Party’s constituency elections. In other words, the proportional representation coalition party has become a 'double-edged sword.'

The key lies in how to 'design' the proportional representation coalition party. Even excluding the progressive Justice Party, they should have first prepared a blueprint that other centrist and reform-oriented parties, including the Minsheng Party, could join. That way, they could participate without significant political burden. If they thought they could discuss it after joining, that was a misjudgment. Jumping in and then realizing 'this is not it' and trying to jump out can cause serious harm. However, the Democratic Party lacked such detailed preparation. A typical example is that on the 13th, Yoon Ho-jung, the Democratic Party’s Secretary-General, could not even meet Kim Jeong-hwa, the co-representative of the Minsheng Party, and they only ended up with a strained relationship.

For instance, they should have prepared positions on how to handle the status of lawmakers elected through the proportional representation coalition party after the 21st general election, what the maximum platform of the 'big tent' coalition would be, and how to arrange the order of proportional representatives. This would have allowed internal discussions within the Minsheng Party and the Justice Party to progress. Nevertheless, the Democratic Party was inadequate. In fact, it was more like notifying them in a way that effectively created a 'Democratic Party second team.' If that happens, after the general election, the Minsheng Party or the Justice Party could effectively face dissolution. Therefore, the Justice Party’s firm rejection and Co-representative Kim’s anger were fully predictable.

Now, the Democratic Party faces a major variable that could determine the outcome of the general election: the proportional representation coalition party. The participation of minor parties such as the Future Party is positive for now. However, that alone is not enough. The participation of the Minsheng Party is crucial. It would be ideal if the Justice Party also joined, but that seems unlikely. Time is running out. The proportional representation coalition party, which has already become a 'double-edged sword,' now draws attention to the Democratic Party’s strategic choice on how to draw its blueprint.

Park Sang-byeong (Political Commentator)

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.