Last-Minute Tug-of-War Over Electoral District Delimitation... Possibility of the Longest Delayed Approval in History

Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over Electoral District Delimitation
Disagreements Arise Over Adjustment of Busan Electoral Districts
Mercury Act and Other Defense Export Bills Expected to Pass in Plenary Session

The ruling and opposition parties held what is effectively the last plenary session before the general election to re-vote on the electoral district delimitation bill and the double special prosecution law (related to the special investigations into Kim Geon-hee's alleged stock manipulation of Deutsche Motors and the '50 Billion Club' bribery allegations in the Daejang-dong development project), which was returned to the National Assembly following President Yoon Seok-yeol's request for reconsideration (veto). However, a last-minute tug-of-war is unfolding over the electoral district delimitation issue. If the ruling and opposition parties fail to reach an agreement, there is a growing possibility that a one-point National Assembly session will be held in March to finalize the electoral district delimitation. Concerns have been raised that this could result in the latest electoral district delimitation in history.

On the 29th, Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, explained the progress of negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties regarding electoral district delimitation, saying, "Considering the sense of loss that residents of Jeonbuk will feel due to the reduction of local assembly members caused by population decline, the consistent proposal so far has been to designate four special areas and reduce one proportional representation seat to accommodate Jeonbuk." He criticized the Democratic Party, stating, "They are proposing to split Busan Nam-gu and merge the dong (neighborhoods) of adjacent Seo-gu and Dong-gu into two electoral districts. This is clearly gerrymandering." He added, "When we said we could not accept this proposal, they suggested returning to the National Election Commission's delimitation plan."

Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul on the 29th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Hong Ik-pyo, floor leader of the Democratic Party, expressed at an emergency meeting held at the National Assembly, "Regarding the electoral district delimitation, despite it being a disadvantageous and biased plan for conducting a normal election, we expressed our willingness to endure it, but we deeply regret that no agreement was reached due to the ruling party's change of stance." He shifted responsibility to the ruling party, claiming, "The opposition had agreed to accept the National Assembly Speaker's mediation proposal on the adjustment of Busan's electoral district boundaries, but it was overturned due to selfish demands from a part of the Busan region."

Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on the 29th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The floor leaders of both parties planned to meet in the morning to make final adjustments for the plenary session's processing. If no agreement is reached, there is a high possibility that the electoral district delimitation will be delayed. A National Assembly Speaker's office official stated, "The electoral district delimitation bill requires agreement between the ruling and opposition parties. The Speaker cannot unilaterally process it."

However, the Democratic Party maintains the position that the re-vote on the double special prosecution law can only take place after the electoral district delimitation issue is resolved.

The longest delay in electoral district delimitation in history occurred during the 16th National Assembly, when the districts were finalized only 37 days before the general election.

Separate from the electoral district delimitation bill and the double special prosecution law, 25 bills are scheduled to be processed in the plenary session after passing through the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in the morning. Among these bills is the amendment to the Export-Import Bank Act, which raises the statutory capital limit of the Export-Import Bank from the current 15 trillion won to 25 trillion won. In the defense industry, financial support from export finance institutions is necessary when exporting, but there have been issues with financial support due to limits on the Export-Import Bank's own capital. Also scheduled to be processed in the plenary session after passing the Legislation and Judiciary Committee is the Housing Act amendment, which postpones the mandatory three-year residence requirement for apartments subject to the price ceiling system.

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