LKP fears losing influence

National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang, center, trades verbal jabs with an unidentified Liberty Korea Party lawmaker at the National Assembly, Wednesday. Yonhap

By Kim Yoo-chul

The country's main opposition Liberty Korea Party's (LKP) strong opposition for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) determined push for a needed electoral reform bill is due to concerns about losing influence.

With the 2020 general election deadline looming, the DPK has submitted proposals outlining a vital expansion of proportional representation, which would both restrain endemic regionalism and produce a National Assembly more reflective of the electorate.

The DPK partnered with three other opposition parties to pass bills to establish an independent unit designated to investigate alleged misconduct, irregularities and crimes by high-ranking government officials in addition to the electoral reform bill. These bills must be placed on a legislative fast track to ensure the adjustments are in place for the 2020 general election.

But the LKP believes the proposed election bill will be a huge plus to the ruling party, as well as the minor Justice Party to gain more seats.

Specifically, electoral reform has long been a key issue of debate, with presidents from the ruling and opposition sides raising the issue in the past. But the responsibility lies with the legislature, not the executive, to negotiate and develop a modified electoral model that is politically viable and constitutionally sound, said political analysts in Seoul.

As increasing the relatively low ratio of proportional seats in the Assembly is at the central point of the reform proposal, it will provide a greater chance for minor parties to have a consistent political presence. This is the key reason behind the minor parties' “strategic support” for the DPK-led reform bill proposal.

But the proposal assigns proportional representatives to one of six designated regions according to the party's percentage of votes in that region, and the LKP raises concerns about losing its support from its traditional support bases.

The LKP, formerly known as the Saenuri Party, won 90 percent of seats in the conservative stronghold of South Gyeongsang Province, Busan and Ulsan in the 2012 general election despite getting just over 50 percent of votes.

Also, the main opposition is arguing the envisioned investigative authority would be full of progressive lawyers working under the order of President Moon Jae-in. Rather than cooperation, the LKP is calling for senior presidential secretary for civil affairs Cho Kuk to step down from the position. Cho is considered one of the top confidants of President Moon.

LKP lawmakers traded verbal jabs with National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang over the DPK-led coalition force's move to fast-track the reform bill.