KWDI Korean Women’s Development Institute

The political gender quota system is one of the affirmative actions which is aimed to promote gender equality. Especially the political candidates’ gender quota system―allotting certain proportions only for women from the candidates’ level―has power to change political environment since being candidates is the first step to take part in. In that sense, it is the temporal but effective way to increase the proportion of women in the legislature.

The political candidates’ gender quota system has been proliferating world-widely since after the 4th World Women’s Conference in Beiging, 1995 and South Korea also adapted it as well. Even for all its shortcomings, one thing is obvious that the political candidates’ gender quota system contributes to the improvement of the number of women MPs. Then do women act for women? Does the increase of women MPs bring out women-friendly policies?

This research aims to investigate two things. First, how the increase of women MPs lead to the improvement of women’s substantive representation focusing on parliamentary activities. Second, by the same logic, does the increase of the proportion of women MPs also affect to political environment.

To solve this research questions, we take case studies from 16th to 19th National Assembly and compare them. First, we track the women MPs political activities and careers within the legislature such as arrangement of the National Assembly Standing Committee and the contribution of it. Second, we examine bill proposals that present by women MPs and find out differences by parties, parliamentary sessions and the way of election―proportional or constituencies. Third, we investigate women MPs’ official statements using keyword analysis method. When it comes to official statements, it is limited to interpellation and inspection of administration. Forth, we conduct focus group interview. Interviewees are selected from one person in each parliamentary sessions and asked limitations of political candidates’ gender quota system. As a result we find out how to make the political candidates’ gender quota system better and how to change the parliament more gender-friendly.

Keyword: Political candidates’ gender quota system, Women MPs, Women’s political participation, Parliamentary activities, Keyword analysis, Interpellation, Gender sensitive approach