What are the electoral systems for the South Korean presidential and parliamentary elections? Why are the presidential and parliamentary elections held at different times? What does the semi-concurrent system for South Korean parliamentary elections mean? How can the National Assembly impeach the president? Does the president have other checks and balances?

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Presidential and Parliamentary Elections

In South Korea’s electoral system, the presidential and parliamentary elections are not held in the same year, which helps to reduce political confrontation and social unrest during the election period. Each election is conducted separately to ensure that voters can focus on their respective voting decisions.

Presidential Election

Item	Description
Election Cycle	The term of the South Korean president is five years, and consecutive terms are not allowed
Most Recent Election	2022/03/09
Election Method	The president is elected directly by all citizens
Candidate Qualifications	Presidential candidates must be at least 40 years old and have the right to be elected as a member of the National Assembly. Candidates must meet these conditions on the day of the election
Voting Method	Voters can choose one candidate when voting, and the candidate with the highest votes is elected. If multiple candidates receive the same number of votes, the National Assembly will vote to determine the winner

Parliamentary Election

Item	Description
Election Cycle	The term of the South Korean National Assembly is four years, and parliamentary elections are held every four years
Most Recent Election	2024/04/15
Assembly Composition	The South Korean National Assembly consists of 300 members, of which 253 are from regional constituencies and 47 are proportional representation members
Election System	Since 2020, South Korea has adopted a “semi-concurrent system” of proportional representation. This means that out of the 47 proportional representation seats, 30 are calculated using the concurrent system, and 17 are calculated using the parallel system
Voting Method	Voters have two votes when voting: one vote for a regional candidate and another vote for a party. This design aims to give smaller parties more opportunities to enter the National Assembly
Threshold Requirement	Parties must obtain at least 3% of the votes in the proportional representation section or win at least 5 seats in the regional elections to gain at-large seats

The design of South Korea’s electoral system aims to promote democratic participation while also considering political diversity. By combining direct elections and proportional representation, South Korea hopes to better reflect public opinion and maintain political stability.

What does the semi-concurrent system for South Korean parliamentary elections mean?

2020 South Korean National Assembly Election - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The semi-concurrent system is a new system introduced in the 2020 National Assembly elections in South Korea, aimed at improving the difficulties faced by smaller parties under the previous parallel system.

Compared to the traditional concurrent system, the semi-concurrent system adjusts the seat calculation, allowing some seats to be compensated at a lower ratio to better balance representation between large and small parties.

Item	Description
Origin of Name	Called `“semi-concurrent system”` because it partially adopts the principles of the `concurrent system`, but does not fully implement all features of the concurrent system.
Seat Structure	The South Korean National Assembly has a total of 300 seats, of which 253 are regional members elected from various constituencies, and 47 are proportional representation members.
Seat Allocation Method	Under the new semi-concurrent system, 30 of the 47 seats will be calculated based on the “50% concurrent type,” while the remaining 17 seats will be allocated based on the party vote share.
Opportunities for Small Parties	The semi-concurrent system aims to provide more opportunities for small parties to enter the National Assembly, as it reduces the monopoly of large parties in the proportional representation section.

What are the differences between the semi-concurrent system, concurrent system, and parallel system?

System Type	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages
Semi-concurrent system	Combines regional elections and proportional representation	- Increases representation for small parties, allowing more parties to enter the National Assembly. - Party votes and regional votes are calculated separately, reducing the monopoly of large parties.	- Calculation methods are complex, making election results difficult to understand.
Concurrent system	Combines regional elections and proportional representation elections, determining total seats based on party votes, then deducting regionally elected seats.	- Better reflects voter intentions, as seats are allocated based on vote share. - Small parties have opportunities to enter the National Assembly, enhancing political diversity.	- Large parties still dominate regional elections, making it difficult for small parties to gain enough seats.
Parallel system	Elections for regional members and proportional representation members are calculated independently, each generating seats separately.	- Simple and clear, with straightforward calculation methods. - Each party can focus on its own election strategy without being affected by other elections.	- Small parties find it difficult to gain enough seats, leading to a majority in the assembly being dominated by large parties. - May cause discrepancies between party vote shares and actual seats.

Both the semi-concurrent system and the concurrent system aim to increase representation for small parties, while the parallel system is simpler but disadvantageous for small parties. Each system has its applicability and challenges in different political environments.

What are the members of the South Korean Cabinet?

Position	Responsibilities
President (Speaker)	Responsible for the highest executive power of the country, formulating and implementing policies, leading the State Council
Prime Minister (Deputy Speaker)	Assists the president, supervises the work of various departments, acts on behalf of the president (if the president is impeached)
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Finance	Responsible for the formulation and implementation of the national budget and economic policies
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education	Responsible for the formulation and implementation of education policies, including the school system and higher education
Minister of Foreign Affairs	Responsible for managing foreign affairs and international relations
Minister of National Defense	Responsible for managing national defense policies and military operations
Minister of Justice	Responsible for legal affairs, the prosecution system, and judicial reform
Minister of the Interior and Safety	Responsible for internal security, disaster management, and public safety
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism	Responsible for formulating and implementing policies related to culture, sports, and tourism
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs	Responsible for policies related to agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and food safety
Minister of Environment	Responsible for formulating and implementing policies for environmental protection and sustainable development
Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy	Responsible for industrial policies, trade, and resource management
Minister of Health and Welfare	Responsible for formulating and implementing public health, social welfare, and medical policies
Minister of Employment and Labor	Responsible for labor market policies, employment promotion, and labor rights protection
Minister of Gender Equality and Family	Responsible for policies related to women’s rights, family policies, and youth affairs
Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport	Responsible for land planning, transportation, and infrastructure construction
Minister of Oceans and Fisheries	Responsible for managing marine resources, aquaculture, and fisheries policies

What powers does the South Korean National Assembly have?

Position	Scope of Authority
Legislative Power	Has the power to formulate laws, amend the constitution, and deliberate on bills.
Financial Power	Responsible for budget deliberation, tax legislation, and oversight of government spending.
Supervisory Power	Has the right to question government officials, conduct investigations, and monitor government operations to ensure compliance with the constitution and laws.
Impeachment Power	Can propose impeachment motions against the president and other senior officials and conduct related deliberations.
Personnel Consent Power	Provides consent or veto for the Prime Minister, Chief Justice, and other important officials nominated by the president.
No-confidence Recommendation Power	Has the right to recommend the president to dismiss the Prime Minister and other cabinet members.
Self-discipline Power	Formulates internal rules for the National Assembly, manages meeting procedures, and maintains order in the assembly.
Petition Power	Accepts citizens' petitions and reviews and processes them.

The responsibilities of National Assembly members are not limited to legislation but also include oversight and checks on the executive branch to ensure transparency and legality in government operations.

How can the National Assembly impeach the president?

Stage	Content
Proposal for Impeachment	At least one-third of the members of the National Assembly (at least 150 members) must propose an impeachment motion
Reporting the Proposal	The `Speaker of the National Assembly` reports the impeachment proposal at the first meeting
Voting on Impeachment	After the proposal, the National Assembly must vote within 24 to 72 hours, requiring two-thirds support (at least 200 votes) to pass
Suspension of Powers	Once the impeachment motion passes, the `president`’s powers are immediately suspended, and the `Prime Minister` acts in their place
Constitutional Court Review	The impeachment case will be sent to the `Constitutional Court` for review, which must be completed within 180 days
Final Decision	The `Constitutional Court` must have at least seven judges present, and at least six must agree for the president to be officially removed from office

The National Assembly can impeach the president through the above steps, which is a relatively strict procedure aimed at ensuring oversight and checks on the president. If the impeachment is successful, the president will be removed and will not be able to hold public office again.

If the National Assembly can impeach the president, what other checks and balances does the president have?

In South Korea’s political system, the relationship of checks and balances between the president and the National Assembly is very important. Although the National Assembly can impeach the president, the president also has several methods to exert checks and balances.

Method	Content	Description
Appointment Power	The president has the power to appoint the Prime Minister and heads of various departments	The president can choose individuals who share similar views to hold important positions, strengthening support for the executive branch
Declaration of Emergency	The president can declare a state of emergency under the constitution, such as martial law	In emergencies, the president can temporarily expand powers to respond to crises
Legal Proposals and Initiatives	The president can propose legal suggestions or policy proposals to the National Assembly	By proactively proposing bills, the president can influence the legislative direction of the National Assembly
Foreign and Military Authority	As the highest diplomatic representative of the country, the president has broad authority in foreign and military decision-making	The president can take a tough stance in foreign policy, enhancing their political position
Public Opinion Influence	The president can use media and public speeches to communicate directly with the public and garner support	By strengthening connections with the public, the president can enhance their support rate and reduce pressure from the National Assembly

Although the South Korean National Assembly has the power to impeach the president, the president also possesses various means to exert checks and respond to challenges.