[Inside Chodong] The Large Multi-Member District System Becomes a New Hot Topic... Let's Not Forget Its Problems

On the 1st, the day of the 8th nationwide local elections, voters are casting their precious votes at the 7th polling station in Bukgajwa 2-dong, set up at Seoul Sangsa Taxi Meter in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] As the president emphasized electoral system reform in the New Year's address, the introduction of a large multi-member district system has become a hot topic in the political arena this year. Not only the ruling party but also the opposition parties are suspicious of the president's intentions, yet they generally seem to support the introduction of the large multi-member district system. However, new systems always tend to bring unexpected confusion. While the political circles unanimously emphasize the positive aspects of the large multi-member district system, this system also carries certain problems. What issues does the large multi-member district system have? If the problems of the large multi-member district system, which is already being implemented through local councils, can be clearly identified, it will also help improve the system.

The biggest problem with the large multi-member district system is that public opinion can be distorted. Since candidates who are not the top vote-getters can also be elected, candidates with low vote percentages can maintain the same status as those with high vote percentages. For example, in the 8th simultaneous local elections held last year, in the Seoul Seongbuk-gu Gap Na electoral district, which elects five winners, nine candidates ran. Among them, the candidate with the highest votes received 27.77% support, but a candidate with 7.91% of the votes was also elected. According to election law, candidates can have their election expenses reimbursed if they are elected or receive more than 15% of the votes, in which case they get full reimbursement; if they receive more than 10%, they get half reimbursement. The candidate who received 7.91% of the votes was elected without being eligible for any reimbursement of election expenses.

There are also concerns that it will strengthen ‘factional politics.’ For example, in the last local election, in the Nonsan-si Gaseon electoral district of the Chungnam Nonsan-si Gyeryong-si Geumsan-gun constituency, five winners were to be elected with ten candidates running. Among them, nine were candidates from the People Power Party and the Democratic Party of Korea, and one was from the Justice Party. Although the possibility of a minor party candidate winning was considered high, all elected candidates were from the major parties. In such a situation, receiving the ‘Ga’ (first) candidate number from a major party almost guarantees election. Because candidates can be elected with low support rates, the nomination and high ranking within a major party become more important than public opinion. This raises concerns that factional politics will accelerate further. Japan introduced the large multi-member district system in the 1928 House of Representatives election, but when the negative effects of factional politics emerged, it switched to a single-member district and proportional representation system from 1996. However, Japan remains one of the countries with severe factional politics.

There is also a high possibility that candidates’ election expenses will increase. As electoral districts become larger, election expenses increase accordingly. In the 21st National Assembly election, for example, the election expense limit for the Gyeonggi Bucheon Wonmi-gu Gap district was 143 million KRW, but for the larger Gyeongnam Miryang-si Uiryeong-gun Haman-gun Changnyeong-gun district, it was set at 318 million KRW. Election expenses more than doubled. High election expenses and the acceleration of factional politics can completely block the emergence of new politicians. Politicians who have some financial resources and already boast strong connections with the ‘high-ranking people’ of major parties can easily get the ‘Ga’ candidate number and be elected, creating a bleak situation.

Above all, the most concerning issue is the decline in candidate quality. As electoral districts become too large and candidates multiply, unverified individuals may run, and it becomes difficult for voters to verify candidates. Although members of the National Assembly sometimes behave in ways that cause frowns, it should be remembered that there are even more local council members who shock the public with outrageous remarks or misconduct that go beyond common sense.

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