In this presentation, Woo Chang Kang, Associate professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations, Korea University, will delve into the historical backdrop of electoral reforms in Korea, present reform proposals from the National Assembly's political reform committee, and provide insights garnered from deliberative polls and expert surveys on political scientists and public law scholars in 2023.

The U.S. congressional electoral system has remained unaltered since the nation's inception while South Korea maintains a proactive stance on electoral reforms since its democratic transition in 1987. In 2004, it adopted a mixed member majoritarian system, followed by a mixed member proportional system in 2020. As we approach the 2024 elections, renewed debates on electoral reform have surfaced. Why does South Korea consistently reshape its electoral system, and what pivotal issues underpin these changes? 

This public lecture series is organized by the Korea-Pacific Program at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy. For more information on program activities, please visit gps.ucsd.edu/kpp.