| Kim Hyong-O ( M) |
| Tae-Rang Kim ( M) |
1, Yeoido-dong
Youngdeungpo-ku
SEOUL 150 701
Tel.: (822) 788 29 78, 788 29 77
Fax: (822) 788 33 47
E-mail: IPU@assembly.go.kr
| http://www.assembly.go.kr |
- 1 multi-member (54 seats) national constituency
- proportional representation for 54 seats. These seats are divided proportionately among the political parties based upon their votes obtained in the districts, on condition that they have obtained at least 3 % of the total valid votes cast or secured five district constituency seats or more.
Vacancies of district constituency seats arising between general elections are filled through by-elections, on condition that there remains at least one year in the term of the Assembly member to be replaced. Vacancies of proportional representation seats are filled by the "next-in-line" candidates of the political party concerned.
Voting is not compulsory.
- Republic of Korea citizenship
- age: 25 years
- Republic of Korea citizenship
- President of the Republic, members of local legislatures, adjudicators of the Constitution Court, members of National Election Commission
- employees and senior managers of government invested companies
- employees and senior managers of the National Agricultural Co-operative Federation and the National Federation of Fisheries Co-operatives
- teachers not allowed to join political parties (others shall temporarily drop the title and return to schools when the term is over).
- monetary deposit of 15 million won, which is reimbursed in full if a district constituency candidate obtains at least 15% of the valid votes cast. Only half the amount is reimbursed if he/she receives over 10% but less than 15% of the votes. Deposits can be reimbursed to candidates running for proportional representation seats if his/her party obtains at least one seat.
Also available:
Archive of past election results for this chamber
In the previous parliamentary elections held in April 2004, the Uri Party of the then President Roh had won 152 of the 299 seats. The GNP had followed with 121 seats. The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) had taken ten seats. The former ruling Millennium Democratic Party (DP, members of which had formed the Uri Party in October 2003) and the right-wing United Liberal Democrats, had taken nine and four seats respectively.
Prior to the 2008 elections, many new parties were formed.
In August 2007, the Uri Party disbanded itself. Most of its parliamentarians joined the newly-created United New Democratic Party (UNDP), along with five former DP members. In October, other former Uri Party members formed the Renewal of Korea Party. After the 2007 presidential elections, the UNDP merged with the DP and renamed itself the "United Democratic Party" (UDP), led by Mr. Son Hak-gyu, while the Liberty Forward Party (LFP) merged with the People First Party (PFP). The GNP criticized the merger, calling LFP members "migrating-bird politicians", who switched political affiliation frequently.
In late March, Ms. Park Geun-hye - daughter of former president Park Chung-hee and former GNP chairwoman - complained of the elimination of many of her supporters in the GNP's selection of parliamentary candidates. She had been defeated by Mr. Lee for the GNP presidential nomination. Many of her loyalists left the GNP to form a new party, Park's Party, while Ms. Park herself remained in the GNP.
The economy and employment figured prominently in the campaign. The UDP promised to create more jobs through economic growth. It pledged to work towards affording greater protection to the country's low- and middle-income families. The GNP leader, Kang Jae-sup, called on voters' to retrieve "the 10 years the country lost under incompetent liberal governments". Its manifesto included university reforms that would give more autonomy to universities.
Pre-election opinion polls indicated a resounding victory for the GNP due mainly to President Lee's popularity. They also predicted a low turnout at the polls. On 7 April, the election commission announced an incentive to boost turnout; persons who vote in the election would receive a certificate allowing them to obtain discounts on entrance fees at national museums, parks and other public cultural facilities across the country.
Nevertheless, only 46 per cent of the 37.8 million eligible voters turned out at the polls, down from 60 per cent recorded in the 2004 elections.
The GNP won 153 seats, securing a majority in the National Assembly for the first time since 1998. The UDP took 81. The LFP came in third with 18 seats, followed by the Park's Party, which took 14 seats. Around 30 elected GNP candidates were reportedly loyal to Ms. Park. The DLP took five seats while the NPP failed to win any. The Renewal of Korea Party won three seats.
The newly-elected National Assembly held its first session on 30 May.
However, the National Assembly was unable to elect a new Speaker due to a boycott by opposition parties in protest at the decision to resume beef imports from the United States. On 10 July, the National Assembly was finally reconvened after the GNP accepted to revise the law on livestock diseases and investigate the Seoul-Washington beef deal.
Mr. Kim Hyong-O (GNP) was elected as the new Speaker.
Note:
The United Democratic Party (UDP) changed its name to the Democratic Party (DP) after the 2008 elections.
| Round no 1 (9 April 2008): Election results | ||||
| Number of registered electors | 37'796'035 | |||
| Voters | 17'389'206 (46.01%) | |||
| Blank or invalid ballot papers | 205'497 | |||
| Valid votes | 17'183'709 | |||
| Round no 1: Distribution of votes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political Group | Candidates | Votes | % of votes | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand National Party (GNP) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United Democratic Party (UDP) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Independents | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liberty Forward Party (LFP) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Park's Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic Labour Party (DLP) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Renewal of Korea Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Round no 1: Distribution of seats | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political Group | Total of seats | Majority | PR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand National Party (GNP) | 153 | 131 | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United Democratic Party (UDP) | 81 | 66 | 15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Independents | 25 | 25 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liberty Forward Party (LFP) | 18 | 14 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Park's Party | 14 | 6 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic Labour Party (DLP) | 5 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Renewal of Korea Party | 3 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- the term of the Speaker elected for the first two years begins the day of election and ends tw years after the commencement of his or her term as an MP
- the Speaker elected for the second half of the legislature remains in office until the term of the pertaining Assembly expires
- in case of accident, the Deputy Speaker designated by the Speaker shall act on his/her behalf. In case of vacancy, a by-election shall be held
- the first election of the Speaker is held at the first plenary sitting after a general election, not exceeding 7 days after the commencement of a new legislature
- the second election is held 5 days before expiration of the term of the first Speaker
- if the Assembly fails to elect the Speaker in the first round, a second vote shall be held and if the second vote fails to produce a winner, then the final vote shall take place where the candidate with the largest number of votes, in the presence of more than half the membership, is elected the Speaker
- the most senior Member or the presiding Speaker and a few Members appointed as ballot inspectors supervise the voting
- the most senior Member or the presiding Speaker announces the results immediately after the voting
- the results cannot be challenged
- represents the Assembly at home and abroad.
- meetings are held, more than once a month
- salary and additional allowance
- official residence
- official car
- 18 staff
- body guards
- organizes proceeding of meetings
- sets speaking time (strictly limited)
- refers texts to a committee for study
- decides which standing committee takes charge of an issue that does not fall under the jurisdiction of any particular committee
- designates the chairman of the Whole House Committee.
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements during plenary sessions
- invokes the Speaker's 'Power of Guard' and asks the police to restore order if necessary
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order of amendments to be put to a vote
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure but he cannot cancel the result
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly
- appoints, overseas and dismisses public servants working for the legislature
- establishes the Assembly's budget plan with the consent of the House Steering Committee and submits it to the Government
- approves the expenditure of the reserve funds of the National Assembly
- proposes plans to appoint three justices of the Constitutional Court and three members of the National Election Commission
- asks the Board of Audit and Inspection to inspect a certain administrative agency
- requests the Goverment to dispatch policement with the consent of the House Steering Committee in necessary.
- reserves the right to vote
- If found to be exercising the authority of one's previous job after the
commencement of one's duties.
- If one loses the right to stand for elections.
- If the court nullifies the election or its result.
- If the National Assembly decides to dismiss the assemblyman.
- If the National Assembly disqualifies the assemblyman after screening.
- If a lawmaker elected through the proportional representation system changes his/her party affiliation or leaves the original party.
- Car maintenance expenses
- 6 aides and secretaries
- 2 interns for inspection of the administrative affairs
- Free use of national transportation means such as railroads, ships, and airlines
(Provided that the National Assembly is in session)
- Parliamentary non-accountability is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament.
- Can be subjected to ethical investigation and disciplinary measures within the National Assembly.
- An assemblyman shall not be arrested or detained without the consent of the National Assembly except in the case of flagrant offenses.
- Applies only to criminal proceedings.
- The National Assembly may request lawmakers arrested or detained before the opening of the session to be freed.
- Provides handbooks for reference
- Collection of Proceedings of the National Assembly
- Collection of Interpretation of the National Assembly Act
- Collection of the Precedents of the National Assembly
- An MP can face disciplinary measures if he/she fails to fulfill one's duties to attend meetings within 7 days since the convocation without any justifiable cause.
(Paragraph 2 of the Article 155, Article 163)
o Disciplinary measures foreseen (types of discipline)
- Warning at an open meeting
- Apology at an open meeting
- Suspension of attendance for a period not exceeding thirty days
- Expulsion
o Major reasons for discipline
- Committing an act contrary to the provisions of Duty of Integrity, Prohibition of Grafting and Prohibition from Speaking such as contempt.
- Allowing others to inspect, transcribe, or reproduce confidential or non-
published materials for the sake of national security.
- Publishing the contents of a closed meeting.
- Causing disturbance in the chamber and disobeying the orders of the Speaker or committee chairmen.
- Failure to attend plenary or committee meetings without any justifiable reason within seven days from the convocation day or within five days after receiving a written request for attendance.
- Receiving two or more warnings from the Special Ethics Committee for violating the assemblymen's ethical principle and the assemblymen's ethical practice regulations.
o Penalties foreseen for violation of the code of conduct
- Receiving two or more warnings from the Special Ethics Committee for violating the assemblymen's ethical principle and the assemblymen's ethical practice regulations.
o Competent body to judge & impose penalties
- Competent body to judge violation: Special Ethics Committee
- Competent body to impose penalties: Plenary meetings
Also available:
Archive of past election results for this chamber
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