Jo Guk Launches Emergency Action for Political Reform: "Jeonnam-Gwangju Must Adopt Multi-Member District System"

Jo Guk, leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, launched an emergency action on March 9, demanding political reform. He called for the introduction of a multi-member district system in the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, among other changes.

At a press conference marking the second anniversary of the party’s founding, held at the National Assembly that day, Jo commented on the upcoming June local elections, saying, "First and foremost, we must immediately correct the 'unconstitutional electoral system.'" He argued, "If the newly established Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City forms its local council as currently planned, it will immediately face an 'unconstitutional' issue," adding, "Applying the existing single-member district system to the unified region will result in serious population disparities."

He explained, "If the current constituencies are applied as they are to the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, the 12 constituencies in Gwangju Metropolitan City will exceed the population upper limit, while the 11 constituencies in Jeollanam-do will fall below the lower limit." He warned, "Holding elections without a major redistricting would mean proceeding under unconstitutional conditions." Regarding this, Jo criticized the Democratic Party, saying, "The Democratic Party's failure to address the unconstitutional electoral system to protect its vested interests in Honam is an act of deceiving the citizens of Honam and abandoning the legitimacy of democracy itself."

On March 9, 2026, at a press conference marking the 2nd anniversary of the party's founding held at the National Assembly, Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, is giving a speech. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

원본보기 아이콘

Jo pledged, "I will do everything in my power to realize the political reforms demanded by the public, including the introduction of a multi-member district system, a mixed-member proportional representation system, an increase in the number of proportional representation seats, and the adoption of a runoff system for metropolitan mayors and governors."

Meanwhile, Jo also criticized Song Young-gil, former leader of the Democratic Party, for describing the competition from the Innovation Party in the Honam region as "gleaning," and questioned, "If the Innovation Party does not field candidates in Honam, does that mean the Democratic Party will not field candidates in Yeongnam?"

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.