The Uri Party proposes a ''duo-seat system''... Woman groups insist on 30%-odd female proportional representation in upper-level local governments

 

Leading up to Koreas 17th general election in early 2005, a
Leading up to Korea's 17th general election in early 2005, a "Women's Network for Clean Politics" was created in January that year by a group of prominent female leaders. In the front row, from the left, are Sohn Bong-Sook and Chang Hyang-Sook. They represent the Millennium Democratic Party and the URI Party, respectively, in the National Assembly.
Political parties are bent on seeking ways to have more women win seats in local elections in 2006. Rep. You Seung Hee of the Uri Party proposed a ‘duo-seat system’ which would allow each voter to choose one male candidate and one female candidate at a time in each lower-level electoral district. The idea is to raise the portion of female representatives in lower-level local governments up to 50%.

The Democratic Labor Party(DLP) intends to increase female candidates by expanding the ratio of proportional representation seats to 1:1 through revamping laws, while going ahead with a compulsory quota of 30% for female candidates in local districts by way of institutional reforms within the party. The DLP has already set up a planning division for 2006 local elections in its committee on women's affairs. The new division has been discussing the party's institutional reforms, and is carrying out projects including training to single out candidates, and supportive projects to stimulate female participation in politics. 

In woman circles, Cho Hyun Ock, President of the Korea Women's Political Solidarity

(KWPS) proposed a ‘duo-seat system’ or a female upper-level electoral district system for lower-level local councils. KWPS also demanded an increase of the ratio of proportional representation seats at least up to 30% for upper-level local councils, nomination of more than 30% of women as local district candidates, a raise in the government subsidy, and complement of local primaries. Currently, women account for 9.2% of the total representatives in upper-level local councils, and 2.2% of the total in lower-level local councils.

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