The Subcommittee of the Political Reform Special Committee Passes Bill to Expand Overseas Voting Stations for Presidential Election

Discussion Begins on the Amendment to Lower the Age for Party Membership in the Political Party Act

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] A bill to increase the number of overseas voting stations for expatriate Koreans in the upcoming March presidential election passed the National Assembly on the 4th.

The National Assembly's Special Committee on Political Reform (Jeonggae Special Committee) held a subcommittee meeting that day and approved the amendment to the Public Official Election Act. The amendment focuses on easing the installation requirements to increase the number of voting stations for the convenience of overseas voters. The subcommittee also passed a proposal to expand the reasons for adjusting voting hours to allow for longer voting times.

The Jeonggae Special Committee held a plenary session that day to begin discussions on amending the Political Parties Act to lower the current minimum age for party membership, which is set at 18 years old. This is a follow-up measure in response to calls to lower the party membership age after the amendment to the Public Official Election Act, which lowers the eligibility age for candidacy in general and local elections from 25 to 18 years old, passed the National Assembly plenary session on the 31st of last month.

An amendment to the Political Parties Act to revive city/county/district party branches was also submitted. Previously, party branches and their support committees were banned from being established under the so-called "Oh Se-hoon Law" after the 2002 presidential election due to the "car money" scandal involving the Grand National Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party), as they were considered channels for illegal political funds.

Kim Se-hwan, Secretary General of the National Election Commission, stated regarding the bill on establishing party branches, "We have submitted amendment opinions on the premise of preventing factionalization and ensuring accounting transparency," but added, "We hold the view that careful consideration is needed regarding the expansion of personnel."

The Jeonggae Special Committee plans to hold consecutive subcommittee and plenary meetings on the 5th to attempt to approve related laws.

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