The Satellite Party Controversy Sparked by Yong Hye-in Reignites Debate Over Electoral Reform

[Financial News] The controversy over Yong Hye-in, a Basic Income Party lawmaker nominated as a candidate for minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, effectively refusing to resign from the National Assembly has reignited political debate over revising the current semi-proportional representation system, which allows satellite parties. Calls are also growing to revive the anti-satellite-party law that was scrapped in the 21st National Assembly, while others say the country should consider returning to the parallel voting system or introducing a regional proportional representation system.
According to political circles on the 1st, the regular National Assembly session has opened, and the ruling and opposition parties are expected to soon begin talks on forming the Political Reform Special Committee. An official from the Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly told Financial News, "We will hear from both sides as the regular session proceeds," adding, "It is not yet the stage to talk about what has been discussed."
The satellite-party controversy was reignited after Cheong Wa Dae nominated Yong as a candidate for minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. By convention, proportional representation lawmakers resign from the National Assembly when appointed to a cabinet post, but Yong said she would not step down. Her position is that, as the only lawmaker from the Basic Income Party, she should keep her seat to preserve the party's standing as a parliamentary party. The backlash intensified, however, because Yong entered the 21st and 22nd National Assembly as a member of the Democratic Party of Korea's satellite party. Critics argue that she is insisting on keeping her seat even though she was not elected as a Basic Income Party candidate by voters.
As a result, calls are also emerging in political circles to reform the current election system, including the semi-proportional representation system that allows satellite parties. On the 1st, the Democratic Party of Korea's think tank, the Institute for Democracy, released a policy briefing on one of the key legislative tasks for the 2026 regular National Assembly session, saying that reform of the semi-proportional representation system must be pursued on the premise of preventing satellite parties. Research fellow Choi Jong-ho said in the briefing, "The National Assembly should form an Election System Reform Special Committee, separate from the Political Reform Special Committee, and assign it to handle reform of the semi-proportional representation system," adding, "The top principle of reform should be the prevention of satellite parties." He also said that, as the ruling party, the Democratic Party of Korea must take responsibility. The anti-satellite-party law discussed in the 21st National Assembly would have sharply reduced state subsidies for parties that merged with satellite parties.
Debate over electoral system reform is also gaining momentum. Recently, Supreme Council member Choi Min-hee argued that a regional proportional representation system and the best-loser system should be introduced. Under the regional proportional representation system, the country is divided into several regions and proportional seats are allocated according to party vote shares. The best-loser system allows candidates to run in both district and proportional races, giving proportional-seat opportunities to candidates who received strong support but lost in district contests.
Within the People Power Party, the dominant view is that the parallel voting system, which disappeared after the 20th general election, should be restored. Lawmakers Seo Ji-young and former lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong have each introduced revisions to the Public Official Election Act reflecting that position. There are also calls to combine it with an open-list system. One opposition source stressed, "The way to improve a proportional representation system that is effectively appointed is the open-list system," adding, "We should return to the parallel system, but introduce an open-list system to prevent its side effects."
Lawmaker Na Kyung-won also proposed the so-called "anti-satellite-party public-funds embezzlement prevention law," aimed at Yong's controversy. The bill would block state subsidies if a lawmaker elected through a satellite party's proportional list returns to their original party. Na strongly criticized the practice, saying, "A party that cannot even win the support of 1% of the public is taking one seat secured through a satellite-party trick and using it to collect 1.1 billion won a year, or about 4 billion won over four years, in taxpayers' money. That is a 'loss of state funds disguised as law' and a blatant case of 'taxpayer money theft' that mocks representative democracy."
Some have even raised the argument that proportional representation itself is no longer useful. Shin Yul, a professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Myongji University, stressed that the original purpose of proportional representation — to represent occupational groups and open the door for smaller parties to enter the legislature — has already faded. Shin said, "Proportional representation has been reduced to a stepping stone for becoming a district lawmaker," and added, "Even when small parties enter, they only serve as a second wing of the Democratic Party of Korea, so what is the point of artificially inserting them?" He noted that no democratic country with a presidential system has adopted proportional representation, and argued that it should be abolished.
With just over a year and eight months left until the 2028 general election, forming a special committee in the National Assembly is urgent if discussions on electoral reform are to begin. Although criticism of the flaws in the semi-proportional representation system continues to emerge from both major parties, the debate has yet to gain momentum. Research fellow Choi said, "If we miss the chance to reform this time as well, the semi-proportional system will remain in place for the 2028 general election and satellite parties will repeat for a third time." Another ruling-party source also advised that, as the Democratic Party of Korea holds a majority, it should move quickly on electoral reform to prevent damage to democracy.
[email protected] Lee Hae-ram Reporter