National Assembly (South Korea)

National Assembly of the
Republic of Korea
대한민국 국회
大韓民國國會
Daehanminguk Gukhoe
20th National Assembly
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Leadership
     Moon Hee-sang, Independent[1]
Since July 13, 2018
Deputy Speaker
     Lee Ju-young, Liberty Korea
Since July 13, 2018
Deputy Speaker
     Joo Seung-yong, Bareunmirae
Since July 13, 2018
Structure
Seats 300
Political groups

Government[2]

Opposition

Length of term
 4 years
Elections

Parallel voting

Last election
 13 April 2016
Next election
 15 April 2020
Meeting place
National Assembly Building
Seoul, South Korea
37°31′55.21″N 126°54′50.66″E / 37.5320028°N 126.9140722°E / 37.5320028; 126.9140722
Website
korea.assembly.go.kr
National Assembly
Hangul 대한민국국회
Hanja 大韓民國國會
Revised Romanization Daehanminguk gukhoe
McCune–Reischauer Taehanmin’guk kukhoe
Main conference room of South Korean national assembly building.
South Korean national assembly Main conference room, 2014

The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, often shortened to the National Assembly in domestic English-language media, is the 300-member[3] unicameral national legislature of South Korea. Elections to the National Assembly are held every four years. The latest legislative elections were held on 13 April 2016. Single-member constituencies comprise 253 of the assembly's seats, while the remaining 47 are allocated by proportional representation. Members serve four-year terms.

The unicameral assembly consists of at least 200 members according to the South Korean constitution. In 1990 the assembly had 299 seats, 224 of which were directly elected from single-member districts in the general elections of April 1988. Under applicable laws, the remaining seventy-five representatives were elected from party lists. By law, candidates for election to the assembly must be at least thirty years of age. As part of a political compromise in 1987, an earlier requirement that candidates have at least five years' continuous residency in the country was dropped to allow Kim Dae-Jung, who had spent several years in exile in Japan and the United States during the 1980s, to return to political life. The National Assembly's term is four years. In a change from the more authoritarian Fourth Republic and Fifth Republic (1972–80 and 1980–87, respectively), under the Sixth Republic, the assembly cannot be dissolved by the president.

Current composition

This graph traces the recent origins of all six main political parties currently in the Republic of Korea. All of which have either split from or merged with other parties in the last four years. They have emerged from four main ideological camps, from Left to Right: Progressive (socialist), liberal, centrist, and conservative.
Parties in the 20th National Assembly
(as of 26 July 2018)
Group Floor leader Seats % of seats
  Democratic Hong Young-pyo 129 43.14%
  Liberty Korea Kim Sung-tae 112 37.46%
  Bareunmirae Kim Kwan-young 30 10.03%
  Democracy and Peace Chang Byoung-wan 14 4.68%
  Justice Yun So-ha (Acting) 5 1.67%
  Minjung - 1 0.33%
  Korean Patriots' - 1 0.33%
  Independents 7 2.34%
Total 299 100.0%

Notes:

  1. Negotiation groups can be formed by 20 or more members. There are currently 3 negotiation groups in the Assembly, formed by the Democratic Party, the Liberty Korea Party and Bareunmirae Party.

Structure and appointment

Speaker

The constitution stipulates that the assembly is presided over by a Speaker and two Deputy Speakers,[4] who are responsible for expediting the legislative process. The Speaker and Deputy Speakers are elected in a secret ballot by the members of the Assembly, and their term in office is restricted to two years.[5] The Speaker is independent of party affiliation, and the Speaker and Deputy Speakers may not simultaneously be government ministers.[5]

Negotiation groups

Parties that hold at least 20 seats in the assembly form floor negotiation groups (Korean: 교섭단체, Hanja: 交涉團體, RR: gyoseop danche), which are entitled to a variety of rights that are denied to smaller parties. These include a greater amount of state funding and participation in the leaders' summits that determine the assembly's legislative agenda.[6]

Legislative process

To introduce a bill, a legislator must present the initiative to the Speaker with the signatures of at least ten other members of the assembly. The bill must then be edited by a committee to ensure that the bill contains correct and systematic language. It can then be approved or rejected by the Assembly.[7]

Committees

There are 16 standing committees which examine bills and petitions falling under their respective jurisdictions, and perform other duties as prescribed by relevant laws.

  • House Steering Committee
  • Legislation and Judiciary Committee
  • National Policy Committee
  • Strategy and Finance Committee
  • Science, ICT, Future Planning, Broadcasing and Communications Committee
  • Education, Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee
  • Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee
  • National Defense Committee
  • Security and Public Administration Committee
  • Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee
  • Trade, Industry and Energy Committee
  • Health and Welfare Committee
  • Environment and Labor Committee
  • Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee
  • Intelligence Committee
  • Gender Equality and Family Committee

Election

Since the promulgation of the March 1988 electoral law, the assembly has been elected every four years through a Supplementary Member system, meaning that some of the members are elected from constituencies according to the system of first past the post, while others are elected at a national level through proportional representation.[8] As of 2016, 253 members represent constituencies, while 47 were elected from PR lists. In contrast to elections to the Assembly, presidential elections occur once every five years, and this has led to frequent situations of minority government and legislative deadlock.[9]

Reform proposals

A proposal to lower the number of seats required to form a negotiation group to 15 was passed on 24 July 2000, but was overturned by the Constitutional Court later that month.[10] In order to meet the quorum, the United Liberal Democrats, who then held 17 seats, arranged to "rent" three legislators from the Millennium Democratic Party. The legislators returned to the MDP after the collapse of the ULD–MDP coalition in September 2001.[11]

Legislative violence

From 2004 to 2009, the assembly gained notoriety as a frequent site for legislative violence.[12] The Assembly first came to the world's attention during a violent dispute on impeachment proceedings for then President Roh Moo-hyun,[13][14] when open physical combat took place in the assembly. Since then, it has been interrupted by periodic conflagrations, piquing the world's curiosity once again in 2009 when members battled each other with sledgehammers and fire extinguishers.[15][16][17][18] Images of the melee were broadcast around the world.

History

South Korean National Assembly in the 1980s
South Korea
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
the Republic of Korea
Constitution

First Republic

Elections for the assembly were held under UN supervision[19] on 10 May 1948. The First Republic of South Korea was established on 17 July 1948[20] when the constitution of the First Republic was established by the Assembly. The Assembly also had the job of electing the President, and elected anti-communist Syngman Rhee as President on 10 May 1948.

Under the first constitution, the National Assembly was unicameral. Under the second and third constitutions, the National Assembly became bicameral and consisted of the House of Commons and the Senate, but actually unicameral with the House of Commons because the House of Commons could not pass a bill to establish the Senate.


  Conservative   Liberal   Progressive

  majority   plurality only   largest minority

National
Assembly		 Majority
Party		 Majority
Leader		 Seats Speaker Seats Minority
Leaders		 Minority
Parties
1st
(1948)		   NARRKI→NA 55 1948 Rhee Syng-man (supported by NARRKI)
1948–1950 Shin Ik-hee (supported by NARRKI until 1949)		 29 KDP→DNP  
116 others
2nd
(1950)		 DNP 24 Shin Ik-hee (supported by DNP) 24 KNP
14 NA
148 others
3rd
(1954)		   LP 114 Yi Ki-bung (supported by LP) 15 DNP→DP (55)
3 NA
3 KNP
68 others
4th
(1958)		 LP 126 Yi Ki-bung (supported by LP) 79 DP (55)
28 others

Second Republic

House of
Commons		 Majority
Party		 Majority
Leader		 Seats Speaker Seats Minority
Leaders		 Minority
Parties
5th
(1960)		   DP (55) 175 Kwak Sang-hoon (supported by DP (55)) 58 Others  
Senate Majority
Party		 Majority
Leader		 Seats Speaker Seats Minority
Leaders		 Minority
Parties
5th
(1960)		   DP (55) 31 Baek Nak-jun (supported by DP (55)) 27 Others  

Third Republic

Since the reopening of the National Assembly in 1963 until today, it has been unicameral.

National
Assembly		 Majority
Party		 Majority
Leader		 Seats Speaker Seats Minority
Leaders		 Minority
Parties
6th
(1963)		   DRP 110 Lee Hyu-sang (supported by DRP) 41 CRP→PP→NDP  
13 DP (55)→PP→NDP
7th
(1967)		 DRP 129 Lee Hyu-sang (supported by DRP) 45 NDP
8th
(1971)		   DRP 113 Baek Du-jin (supported by DRP) 89 NDP

Fourth Republic

National
Assembly		 Majority
Party		 Majority
Leader		 Seats Speaker Seats Minority
Leaders		 Minority
Parties
9th
(1973)		   DRP+Presidential appointees 146 Chung Il-kwon (supported by DRP) 52 NDP  
10th
(1978)		 DRP+Presidential appointees
↓
KNP		 145 1978–1879 Chung Il-kwon (supported by DRP)
1979 Baek Du-jin (supported by DRP)		 61 NDP

Fifth Republic

National
Assembly		 Majority
Party		 Majority
Leader		 Seats Speaker Seats Minority
Leaders		 Minority
Parties
11th
(1981)		   DJP 151 1981–1983 Chung Rae-hyung (supported by DJP)
1983–1985 Chae Mun-shik (supported by DJP)		 81 DKP  
25 KNP
12th
(1985)		 DJP 148 Lee Jae-hyung (supported by DJP) 67 NKDP
35 DKP
20 KNP

Sixth Republic

National
Assembly		 Majority
Party		 Majority
Leader		 Seats Speaker Seats Minority
Leaders		 Minority
Parties
13th
(1988)		   DJP
↓
DLP		 125↓
219		 1988–1990 Kim Jae-sun (supported by DJP→DLP)
1990–1992 Park Jyun-kyu (supported by DLP)		 70 PDP→DP (91)  
59↓
0		 RDP
merge with DJP 1990
35↓
0		 NDRP
merge with DJP 1990
14th
(1992)		 DLP
↓
NKP		 149↓
119		 1992–1993 Park Jyun-kyu (supported by DLP)
1993 Hwang Nak-joo (supported by DP)
1993–1994 Lee Man-sup (supported by DLP)
1994–1996 Park Jyun-kyu (supported by DLP→NKP)		 97 DP (91)→NCNP
0↓
61		 ULD
split from DLP in 1995
31↓
0		 UPP
merge with ULD in 1995
15th
(1996)		 NKP
↓
GNP		 1999–2000 Lee Bu-young 139 1996–1998 Kim Soo-han (supported by NKP→GNP)
1998–2000 Park Jyun-kyu (supported by GNP)		 79
↓
105		 NCNP→MDP
50
↓
55		 ULD
15 UDP (95)→DP (95)
16th
(2000)		 GNP 2000 Lee Bu-young
2000–2001 Jeon Chang-hwa
2001–2002 Lee Jae-oh
2002–2003 Lee Kyu-taek
2003–2004 Hong Sa-duk		 133↓
150		 2000–2002 Lee Man-sup (supported by MDP)
2002–2004 Park Kwan-yong (supported by GNP)		 115↓
73		 MDP
0↓
47		 2003–2004 Kim Geun-tae UP
split from MDP in 2003
17↓
0		 ULD
merge with GNP in 2006
17th
(2004)		 UP
↓
UDP		 2004 Kim Geun-tae (UP)
2004–2005 Chun Jung-bae (UP)
2005–2006 Chung Sye-kyun (UP)
2006–2007 Kim Han-gil (UP)
2007–2008 Chang Young-dal (UP)
2007–2008 Kim Hyo-seuk (UDP)		 152 2004–2006 Kim Won-ki (supported by UP)
2006–2008 Lim Chae-jung (supported by UP→UDP)		 121 2004 Hong Sa-duk
2004–2005 Kim Deog-ryong
2005–2006 Kang Jae-sup
2006 Lee Jae-oh
2006–2007 Kim Hyong-o
2007–2008 Ahn Sang-soo		 GNP
10 DLP
18th
(2008)		 GNP
↓
NFP		 2008 Ahn Sang-soo
2008–2009 Hong Jun-pyo
2009–2010 Ahn Sang-soo
2010–2011 Kim Moo-sung
2011–2012 Hwang Woo-yea		 153 2008–2010 Kim Hyong-o (supported by GNP)
2010–2012 Park Hee-tae (supported by GNP)
2012–2012 Chung Eui-hwa (supported by GNP→NFP)		 81 2008 Kim Hyo-seuk (UDP)
2008–2009 Won Hye-young (UDP→DP)
2009–2010 Lee Kang-lae (DP)
2010–2011 Park Jie-won (DP)
2011–2012 Kim Jin-pyo (DP→DUP)		 UDP
↓
DP (08)
↓
DUP
18 2008–2010 Kwon Sun-taik
2010 Ryu Keun-chan
2010–2011 Kwon Sun-taik
2011–2012 Kim Nak-sung		 LFP
5 2008 Kwon Young-ghil (DLP)
2008–2012 Kang Ki-kab (DLP→UPP)		 DLP→UPP
14↓
0		 2008–2012 Roh Chul-Lae PPC→FHA
merge with NFP in 2012
19th
(2012)		 NFP 2012 Hwang Woo-yea
2012–2013 Lee Hahn-koo
2013–2014 Choi Kyoung-hwan
2014–2015 Lee Wan-koo
2015 Yoo Seung-min
2015–2016 Won Yoo-chul		 152↓
145		 2012–2014 Kang Chang-hee (supported by NFP)
2014–2016 Chung Ui-hwa (supported by NFP)		 127↓
103		 2012 Kim Jin-pyo (DUP)
2012 Park Jie-won (DUP)
2012–2013 Park Ki-choon (DUP→DP)
2013–2014 Jun Byung-hun (DP→NPAD)
2014 Park Young-sun (NPAD)
2014 Kim Yung-rok (NPAD)
2014–2015 Woo Yoon-keun (NPAD)
2015–2016 Lee Jong-kul (NPAD→TDP)		 DUP
↓
DP (11)
↓
NPAD
↓
DP
18↓
20		 2016 Joo Seung-yong PP
split from NPAD in 2016
5 2012–2013 Kang Dong-won
2013–2015 Sim Sang-jung
2015–2016 Jeong Jin-hoo		 JP
split from UPP in 2012
1 2016 Shin Ki-nam MP
1↓
0		 2016 Lee Yoon-seok CLP
13↓
0		 2012 Kang Ki-kab
2012–2014 Kim Seon-dong
2014 Oh Byung-yun		 UPP
banned in 2014
5↓
0		 2011–2012 Kim Nak-sung
2012 Sung Woan-jong		 LFP→AUP
merge with NFP in 2012
20th
(2016)		 DP 2016-2017 Woo Sang-ho
2017-2018 Woo Won-sik
2018- Hong Young-pyo		 123↓
130		 2016-2018 Chung Sye-kyun (supported by DP)
2018- Moon Hee-sang (supported by DP)		 122↓
112		 2016 Chung Jin-suk
2016-2017 Chung Woo-taek
2017- Kim Seong-tae		 NFP
↓
LKP
30 2018- Kim Dong-cheol BMP
merged by PP and BP in 2018
14 2018- Chang Byung-wan PDP
split from PP in 2018
6 2016- Roh Hoe-chan JP
2↓
1		 2017 Yoon Jong-o MP
1 2017- KPP
split from SP in 2017
38↓
0		 2016 Park Jie-won
2016-2017 Joo Seung-yong
2017-2018 Kim Dong-cheol		 PP
merge with BP in 2018
31↓
0		 2016-2017 Joo Ho-young
2017-2018 Oh Shin-hwan		 BP
split from NFP in 2016
merge with PP in 2018
1↓
0		 2017- SP

Members

See also

References

  1. ↑ Speaker can't join in a party. Formerly a member of the Democratic Party.
  2. ↑ www.assembly.go.kr/memCond/hnumseat.do
    의석수 현황
  3. ↑ Article 21, Clause 1 of the Election Law
  4. ↑ Article 48 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea.
  5. 1 2 Park, Young-Do (2010). "Kapitel 2: Verfassungsrecht". Einführung in das koreanische Recht [Introduction to Korean Law] (in German). Springer. p. 25. ISBN 9783642116032.
  6. ↑ Youngmi Kim (2011). The Politics of Coalition in South Korea. Taylor & Francis, p. 65.
  7. ↑ Park 2010, p. 27.
  8. ↑ Aurel S. Croissant, "Electoral Politics of South Korea", in Croissant et al. (2002) Electoral Politics in Southeast and East Asia. Friedrich Ebert Foundation, p. 257.
  9. ↑ Croissant, p. 257.
  10. ↑ Y. Kim, p. 68.
  11. ↑ Y. Kim, pp. 68–9.
  12. ↑ "The World's Most Unruly Parliaments".
  13. ↑ "South Korean president impeached". 12 March 2004 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  14. ↑ "In pictures: Impeachment battle". 12 March 2004 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  15. ↑ "Democracy, South Korean-style: MPs blasted with fire extinguishers after trying to break into Parliament with hoses and sledgehammers".
  16. ↑ Glionna, By John M. "South Korea lawmakers: Reaching across the aisle with a sledgehammer". latimes.com.
  17. ↑ "South Korean politicians use fire extinguishers against opposition". 18 December 2008 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  18. ↑ "Hall of Violence". 2 March 2009.
  19. ↑ Setting the Stage Archived 16 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  20. ↑ ICL – South Korea Index Archived 13 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
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