By Jun Ji-hye
A majority of Koreans oppose increasing the number of lawmakers, according to a survey released Friday.
A Gallup Korea poll showed that 57 percent of respondents believed the number of lawmakers should decrease, while 29 percent said the current 300 seats are sufficient. Only 7 percent supported the proposal for increasing seats.
The result amounted to 86 percent of people opposing a rise in parliamentary seats.
Even when a precondition of freezing the total annual allowances to lawmakers was presented, it still showed a big lead for "no" with 75 percent. Only 17 percent said they support the increase.
The survey was conducted for three days from Tuesday while discussions have continued for the need for a larger Assembly.
Opposition lawmakers argue that raising the number parliamentary seats is necessary to adjust the electoral constituency map and reform an electoral system before the 20th general elections in April of next year.
The move followed a ruling of the Constitutional Court in October last year.
At the time, the court ruled the current map unconstitutional, saying legitimate population deviation between the most- and least-populated constituencies should narrow from the current 3 to 1 ratio to 2 to 1 to equally represent the changing population of electoral districts.
This means it could lead to a reduction in the number of lawmakers chosen from less-populated regions, while increasing the number in populated areas.
However, the proposal for raising the number of parliamentary seats received the cold shoulder from the public in a previous Gallup survey too as 86 percent of respondents were opposed to an increase in November last year.
The survey results reflect the public's deepening distrust of lawmakers.
"The public believes that the current 300 seats are not inconsiderable," Gallup said. "It will be necessary for lawmakers to mull ways to improve their quality rather than talking about increasing numbers."
The discussion for the proposal ignited Sunday when the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy's (NPAD) reform committee proposed to raise seats from 300 to 369.
The committee called for raising non-electoral seats from 54 to 123 while keeping 246 electoral seats, saying this is in line with the National Election Commission's (NEC) proposal.
The NEC earlier suggested increasing the quota for proportional representatives to eradicate widespread regionalism in the nation's politics.
The ruling Saenuri Party is also opposing the NPAD's proposal, saying raising efficiency is more important than greater numbers. The party said it is coming up with measures to comply with the ruling of the Constitutional Court.
In response, NPAD Chairman Rep. Moon Jae-in said, "The Saenuri Party just wants to keep the privileges of lawmakers."
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
A majority of Koreans oppose increasing the number of lawmakers, according to a survey released Friday.
A Gallup Korea poll showed that 57 percent of respondents believed the number of lawmakers should decrease, while 29 percent said the current 300 seats are sufficient. Only 7 percent supported the proposal for increasing seats.
The result amounted to 86 percent of people opposing a rise in parliamentary seats.
Even when a precondition of freezing the total annual allowances to lawmakers was presented, it still showed a big lead for "no" with 75 percent. Only 17 percent said they support the increase.
The survey was conducted for three days from Tuesday while discussions have continued for the need for a larger Assembly.
Opposition lawmakers argue that raising the number parliamentary seats is necessary to adjust the electoral constituency map and reform an electoral system before the 20th general elections in April of next year.
The move followed a ruling of the Constitutional Court in October last year.
At the time, the court ruled the current map unconstitutional, saying legitimate population deviation between the most- and least-populated constituencies should narrow from the current 3 to 1 ratio to 2 to 1 to equally represent the changing population of electoral districts.
This means it could lead to a reduction in the number of lawmakers chosen from less-populated regions, while increasing the number in populated areas.
However, the proposal for raising the number of parliamentary seats received the cold shoulder from the public in a previous Gallup survey too as 86 percent of respondents were opposed to an increase in November last year.
The survey results reflect the public's deepening distrust of lawmakers.
"The public believes that the current 300 seats are not inconsiderable," Gallup said. "It will be necessary for lawmakers to mull ways to improve their quality rather than talking about increasing numbers."
The discussion for the proposal ignited Sunday when the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy's (NPAD) reform committee proposed to raise seats from 300 to 369.
The committee called for raising non-electoral seats from 54 to 123 while keeping 246 electoral seats, saying this is in line with the National Election Commission's (NEC) proposal.
The NEC earlier suggested increasing the quota for proportional representatives to eradicate widespread regionalism in the nation's politics.
The ruling Saenuri Party is also opposing the NPAD's proposal, saying raising efficiency is more important than greater numbers. The party said it is coming up with measures to comply with the ruling of the Constitutional Court.
In response, NPAD Chairman Rep. Moon Jae-in said, "The Saenuri Party just wants to keep the privileges of lawmakers."
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
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