Gangdong-gu Electoral District Population Disparity 3.2 Times: Violates 'Equal Election' Standard

A critical issue has emerged regarding electoral district boundaries in Seoul's Gangdong-gu, with the proposed setup for the upcoming June 1 local elections falling short of the Constitutional Court's 'equal election' standards. The discrepancy in population representation between electoral districts is stark, raising serious concerns about voter equality and fairness.

The current plan, established under the revised Public Official Election Act just weeks before the election, has drawn sharp criticism for its hasty implementation. The Constitutional Court previously ruled that population disparities exceeding a 3:1 ratio between the largest and smallest districts violate the principle of equal voting rights. In Gangdong-gu, the 'Ma' electoral district (Cheonho 2-dong) represents only 11,675 residents, falling below the permissible lower limit, while the 'Da' electoral district (Gangil-dong, Sangil 2-dong, Godeok 2-dong) represents 37,016 residents, exceeding the upper limit and creating a 3.17-fold difference.

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The National Assembly, failing to meet the deadline for electoral district demarcation 180 days before the local elections, discussed districts based solely on partisan advantage, resulting in a comical situation where even the Constitutional Court's standards were not met.

This imbalance is largely attributed to the expansion of multi-member constituencies, a measure intended to increase political participation. However, the adjustment of district boundaries without proper consideration for the increased number of representatives has led to this problematic outcome. Legal experts and civic groups, such as the Lawyers for a Democratic Society, condemn the National Assembly's rushed legislative process, arguing that it prioritizes political expediency over constitutional principles. The lack of adequate time for candidates, especially from smaller parties, to prepare for the elections further exacerbates the situation, undermining the very democratic ideals the changes were meant to promote.

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Changing a two-member district to a three- or four-member district is desirable (as it can expand political participation for minority parties), but when decided only about 40 days before the election, minority parties lack even the time to register candidates.