▲ Democratic Party Leader Kim Min-seok
Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party, raised the need to reform the electoral system, including lowering the requirements for forming parliamentary negotiation blocs and adjusting the semi-mixed member proportional representation system, as a way to strengthen solidarity with pro-government progressive minority parties.
Appearing on "Minti 07" on the party's official YouTube channel "Democratic Party TV," Kim mentioned Basic Income Party Floor Leader Yong Hye-in, who voluntarily stepped down from her nomination as Minister of Gender Equality and Family, saying, "Watching the issue surrounding candidate Yong, while she faced criticism, didn't it also show us the fragile reality of progressive forces?"
He said, "As the eldest brother of progressive political forces, we have reached a stage where we must propose and realize how to achieve progressive solidarity," adding, "Rather than merely criticizing this problem, we need to solve it, and I am contemplating how to do so."
Regarding lowering the threshold for parliamentary negotiation blocs, Kim remarked, "The Progressive Party, Social Democratic Party, Basic Income Party, and Rebuilding Korea Party are all demanding it, and civil society has also been calling for it," adding, "People seem to think that (lowering it from the current 20 seats to) 'around 15 seats would be realistic and acceptable as a first step.'"
On the issue of the semi-mixed member proportional system, whose reform has been called for following Floor Leader Yong's withdrawal from the ministerial nomination, Kim shared his thoughts, saying, "Currently, it is a semi-mixed member proportional system within single-member districts, so we need to discuss what would be more reasonable."
Regarding the runoff voting system, he stated that he is considering introducing it starting with presidential elections.
Regarding plans for unifying candidates among progressive forces in the future, Kim once again suggested "unification based on competitiveness," stating, "When unifying candidates across different parties, common sense dictates that the candidate likely to get the most votes—the one ranking first in polls—should be the one."
In addition, during the broadcast on Wednesday, when Kim Jin-ai, chairperson of the Presidential Commission on Architecture Policy, argued for the necessity of establishing a national housing policy committee, Kim expressed agreement, saying, "I believe housing governance is needed where the ruling and opposition parties, civil society, and academia can comprehensively discuss and make decisions on housing."
In response to calls to expand the housing fund from its current size of around 4 trillion won to about 20 trillion won, he replied, "While it may be difficult immediately under the current budget structure, I personally agree with the idea that investment needs to be significantly increased to between 10 trillion won and 20 trillion won."
He continued, "Personally, I think it would be good to reflect it (the housing fund) in the future response fund as well," adding, "There is some emerging consensus within the party, so we plan to discuss it."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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