Abstract

Research on Female Representation Expansion for the Local Election in 2022
Type Basic Period 2018
Manager MeeKyoung Moon Date 2019-01-23
Fiie Basic_07 Research on Female Representation Expansion for the Local Election in 2022.pdf ( 72.24 KB )

2018 KWDI Abstract

 

Research on Female Representation Expansion for the Local Election in 2022

 

MeeKyung Moon

Hae Young Kim

Hyun Chool Lee

Mee Young Lim

 

The lack of female politicians contributes to lowering women’s interest in politics, providing greater challenges for female candidates in elections, and discouraging women’s political participation.

 

In order to create a virtuous cycle of greater success, greater interest, and greater participation of women in politics, it is important to understand the unique qualities and resources required for election campaigns different from other social activities. Election is a race in which a number of candidates compete to win and winning an election requires good understanding and experience of the election system.

 

Greater efforts are needed to increase the number of female members in Gwangyeok councils(metropolitan and provincial governments), which is currently lower than those in the National Assembly and Gicho councils (lower administrative districts). A greater presence of female members in Gwangyeok councils will mean more practical female representation in the area of real life issues as well as securing a greater pool of female candidates for the National Assembly and governorship.

 

This research divides the election process into 4stages for the following purposes: 1) to identify major factors in each stage conducive to winning the election; 2) to establish winning strategies for the campaigning stage; and 3) to analyze the status of gender discrimination in the candidate recommendation process by political parties.

 

The intent of this research is to help increase female representation in local councils by enabling female candidates better prepared for election and thereby increasing their chances of winning seats in Gwangyeok councils as well as to support a more favorable condition for female candidates in the public recommendation process.

 

Based on the findings of this research, our suggestions include: 1) establish and provide election guidelines for female candidates, who in general lack the experience of running for election; 2) revise the public recommendation system of each political party to shorten the recommendation deliberation period, adjust the timeline for confirmation, institute two chair with one from each gender and ensure equal gender ratios among the members in the recommendation committee; 3) revise the Public Official Election Act to mandate the quota of 30 percent female representation in both Gwangyeok and Gicho councils and to introduce a step-by-step process for quota implementation; and 4) support female politicians by providing training on how to run an election campaign and institutionalizing additional points for female candidates in the primaries.