Kim Ki-hyun 'Reduce Number of Lawmakers by 30'... Ruling Party 'Party Line', Opposition 'Oppose'

Kim Ki-hyun, the leader of the People Power Party, proposed reducing the number of National Assembly members by 30 during a parliamentary negotiation group speech. While the ruling party supports this, opposition parties have voiced their opposition.

Song Gap-seok, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed his opposition on the SBS program 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' on the 21st, saying, "I believe a responsible ruling party leader should say, 'We will restore and create politics that gives hope in some way,' but instead, relying on shallow public opinion, he said he would cut and reduce the number of assembly members."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He described Kim's speech as "an irresponsible one that is more like an opposition leader's speech rather than a ruling party leader's speech," adding, "In our National Assembly, 300 members have already discussed various issues through the plenary committee for the first time in decades, and through the National Public Deliberation Committee, the public's opinion was gathered on issues such as reducing the number of assembly members and the reduction or abolition of proportional representation. Within just two weeks, 500 public opinions were collected, and the people submitted quite progressive views. Therefore, these proposals are very irresponsible."

On the other hand, the ruling party seems likely to push this as a party policy. Jo Hae-jin, a People Power Party lawmaker and chair of the National Assembly's Political Reform Special Committee subcommittee, said on KBS's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs,' "There is considerable public support for this agenda, and although it has not yet been publicly debated within our party, when members have informal discussions in small groups, many express agreement. Therefore, if the floor leader convenes a party meeting to discuss it, it seems highly likely that it will be adopted as party policy."

Yong, a People Power Party lawmaker, also said on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "If Leader Kim said that much, there is room for discussion as party policy, and in the election system reform plenary committee, our party members have continuously advocated for reducing or cutting proportional representation," adding, "It can definitely become party policy."

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