Assemblyman Sobyeongcheol, Restoration and Normalization of Suncheon Haeryong Electoral District 'In Sight'

Published 09 Oct.2023 22:50(KST)

Rep. So Urges Normalization of Haeryong Special Election District

Just before the 21st general election, the Haeryong-myeon electoral district in Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do was separately divided and attached to adjacent electoral districts as a gerrymandering 'special electoral district,' causing the residents of Haeryong-myeon to feel politically marginalized and persistently demand the normalization of the National Assembly electoral district.

Amid this, the Central Election Commission's National Assembly Electoral District Delimitation Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Delimitation Committee) recently delivered a urging statement to the National Assembly Political Reform Special Committee, requesting the prompt finalization of the delimitation criteria for the 22nd National Assembly election and the normalization of special electoral districts like Haeryong-myeon.

[Photo by So Byeong-cheol]

In response, Representative So Byung-chul stated, “I actively welcome the Delimitation Committee’s announcement that 'adjustment discussions are necessary for Suncheon-si Haeryong-myeon,' thereby urging the normalization of the Suncheon electoral district.”

Earlier, on the 6th, Representative So delivered a 'Re-urge Statement for the Normalization of the Suncheon-Gwangyang-Gokseong-Gurye (Gap) Electoral District' to Nam In-soon, Chairperson of the National Assembly Political Reform Special Committee, strongly urging once again the restoration and normalization of the Suncheon Haeryong-myeon electoral district.

Since the 21st general election, Representative So has emphasized the need to correct the distorted electoral district.

After being elected, Representative So proposed the 'Public Official Election Act Amendment' for electoral district normalization as his first bill, and in February, at the 'Suncheon Regional Committee Democratic Party Advance Rally,' he even adopted a 'Resolution to Urge the Normalization of Suncheon-si Electoral District.'

He has mobilized all means, including submitting normalization petitions and letters to the National Assembly Political Reform Special Committee and the Delimitation Committee, delivering '100-person speeches at the National Assembly Plenary Committee,' various meetings, and press conferences, conducting an all-out campaign.

Moreover, Suncheon’s provincial and city council members, many citizens, and the regional committee have all united with one heart and mind, strongly pressuring the political sphere.

Representative So said, “Suncheon-si, with a population of about 280,000, has become the number one city in Jeollanam-do unlike in the last general election, so the basic principle of the Public Official Election Act that 'a part of one city (si) should not be divided' must be strictly observed,” adding, “Restoring Haeryong-myeon as part of Suncheon’s electoral district to align administrative districts and electoral districts is necessary, and considering Suncheon-si’s population, it is even a situation where dividing the Suncheon electoral district into two, not one, should be considered,” mentioning the possibility of splitting the district.

At a time when the delimitation criteria for the 22nd National Assembly election must be decided soon, Representative So’s persistent efforts have drawn the Delimitation Committee’s urging opinion, raising the attention on the 'normalization of the Suncheon electoral district' to the highest level.

Representative So said, “Chairperson Nam In-soon of the Political Reform Special Committee also deeply empathized with the Suncheon citizens’ desire for electoral district normalization,” and added, “I will devote all efforts to realizing the 'normalization of the Suncheon electoral district' by restoring Haeryong-myeon, and I am confident that this goal will be achieved.”