South Korea Resumes Political Reform Talks, Proposes Revival of Geukdang Regional Parties

South Korea’s National Assembly resumed the political reform process after an 18-day gap, but the latest session of the Political Reform Special Committee largely recycled a long-debated idea: reviving “geukdang” regional parties and related political funds rules. The full committee opened in Seoul’s Yeouido area, with only the revival of regional parties on the agenda.

Four reform-minded parties—the Jokuk Innovation Party, the Progressive Party, the Basic Income Party, and the Social Democratic Party—joined forces to demand more fundamental changes. Jeong Chun-sang of the Jokuk Innovation Party protested that the committee’s operation remains centered on the two major parties and warned he would not be a mere “hanging-on” ally to a grand coalition.

The meeting advanced amendments to the Party Act and the Political Funds Act to establish geukdang or regional parties and to allow fundraising committees to secure stable funding. Geukdang existed until 2004, when the Oh Se-hoon Law abolished them in the name of promoting cleaner elections following episodes of illegal fundraising.

However, critics warned that the plan has practical pitfalls. If a regional party chair is not based in a specific area, the party would be prevented from establishing a fundraising committee, and it could not employ paid staff, effectively hampering grassroots party activity.

Both of Korea’s major parties—the Democratic Party and the People Power Party—expressed broad support for reviving geukdang. They also introduced an amendment to ease the conditions for canceling a party’s registration, reducing the threshold from prior rules: a party could lose registration if it fails to win seats or fails to secure at least 0.5% of valid votes. The Constitutional Court previously ruled against a similar provision in 2014.

In parallel, the four reform-focused groups have pressed for changes to local elections, including larger multi-member districts for local assemblies, expanded proportional representation, and the adoption of a mixed-member proportional system. They also advocate applying such reforms to integrated city-level districts, and they have maintained demonstrations outside the National Assembly since early this month.

The ruling parties, while acknowledging the urgency of redistricting ahead of local elections, have urged a careful, consensus-driven approach. PPP floor leader Seo Il-joon and other lawmakers emphasized the need for a clear timeline, while Democrats argued for swift progress on agreed goals. Jeong Chun-sang walked out in protest when the geukdang item was the only issue on the agenda.

The committee plans to continue deliberations on the 19th, with a first subcommittee (bill review) scheduled to pick up work, though no specific items were publicly fixed. What happens next could influence not only South Korea’s political financing and governance at the local level but also broader questions of policy stability, business investment, and how domestic politics shape Korea’s near-term economic and security posture toward allies, including the United States.