'Yong's resignation is a preview of worse politics to come'

Calls for abolition of semi-linked proportional representation system

People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won. [Yonhap]
People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won. [Yonhap]

People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won on Monday criticized Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Min-seok, asking why he was insisting on a progressive alliance even after Yong Hye-in withdrew over questions about her qualifications and alleged legal violations. "Is this the bill for a backroom deal between President Lee Jae Myung and the Basic Income Party?" Na said.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly's media center, Na questioned what electoral concessions had been promised in exchange for Yong's resignation. "Did they offer Yong Hye-in a third consecutive proportional representation seat in the next general election?" she said.

Na also called for the abolition of the semi-linked proportional representation system, which came under scrutiny following the controversy surrounding Yong, the withdrawn nominee for minister of gender equality and family. "The semi-linked proportional representation electoral law distorts the will of the people and tramples on the constitutional order — it must be abolished," she said.

Na said she would move quickly to introduce a bill to scrap the system. "To root out the birth of privileged, parasitic political creatures like Yong Hye-in's Basic Income Party, and to correct the distorted will of the people and normalize the electoral law, I will lead the sponsorship of a bill to abolish the semi-linked proportional representation system without delay," she said.

Na predicted that Yong's withdrawal would give rise to further controversy. "The nominee for minister of gender equality and family — a fake youth figure who became a proportional representation Assembly member through a satellite party scheme under the corrupt semi-linked proportional representation law and backroom dealings with the Democratic Party — had the audacity to reach for a cabinet post, and that trashy drama series ended early amid public and youth outrage," she said.

"But this situation has not truly ended early," she added. "It looks like a preview of yet another round of debased politics."

Na also highlighted remarks made by ruling camp figures following Yong's withdrawal. She noted that Yong had said upon resigning that she would "carry on the spirit of solidarity within the progressive camp," and that Democratic Party leader chief of staff Kim Tae-seon had chimed in, saying he expected her to "play an important role in completing the progressive alliance and reforming the electoral system." Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok then "drove the nail in," Na said, by declaring he would "accelerate discussions on solidarity with the resigned lawmaker Yong Hye-in, the Basic Income Party and other progressive forces, as well as political reform."

"All three spoke in unison about a progressive alliance and electoral reform," Na said. "It appears they are not retreating with a white flag raised before the public, but rather pressing forward on the back of yet another backroom deal."

Na argued that the proportional representation system, originally introduced to reflect social diversity and professional expertise across sectors, had been abused by those in power to divide up seats among themselves. "The Yong Hye-in and Basic Income Party affair should serve as an opportunity to begin a review aimed at preventing the abuse of the proportional representation system, including the semi-linked proportional representation scheme," she said.


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