UNJournal Jon Lee |  The following article was contributed by Master Cheon Gong to the Diplomacy Journal for publication. –Ed.

 

South Korea has a political system centered on a two-party system. The existence of small and medium-sized parties also includes elements of a multiparty system. The problem is that this political structure makes it difficult to reflect the diverse voices of the people and increases political polarization. We are now at a point where we need to consider whether this structure is suitable for the future.

 

 

The current state of Korean politics and its limitations  

The political structure of modern South Korea has evolved by modeling itself after foreign systems. The two-party system may seem simple and efficient, but in practice, it often breeds partisanship and division. If you look at the roots of our politics, you'll see that the opposition between the left and right has been tackled for thousands of years. This division between the left and right has hindered the development of Korea, and the remnants of this division can still be seen today.

 

As such, Korea has been a political experiment and is in the process of “finding the right politics”. But now we've reached a point where we have the answer. 

New political structure: The Senate, the Central National Assembly, and the House of Representatives  
The essence of politics is service to the people. The new National Assembly structure I propose is divided into the Senate, the Central National Assembly, and the House of Representatives, with each level representing all levels of Korean society and economy.

1. Senate (30%): Composed of people who work for large companies and are nominated by them. Each company can only nominate one person. They serve in an honorary capacity, and their role is that of a parliamentarian. Their expenses and activities are covered by the large companies they work for. The role of the Senate is the final review and approval of legislation. 
   
2. The Central National Assembly (30%): These are people from small and medium-sized enterprises, who are nominated by their respective companies. Each company can only nominate one member. They review legislation from the House of Representatives and play a role in balancing society and business. The expenses of the Central National Assembly are also paid by the companies that nominated the lawmakers.

 

3. House of Representatives (40%): Social organizations and experts in various fields represent the people. Again, no single organization can nominate multiple members. The expenses of the House of Representatives are covered by the government.

 

This structure would represent all walks of life, upper, middle, and lower, and could be a solution to the problems of traditional two-party politics. Above all, it would be a new political model that would move away from the framework of party politics and toward one in which society and business work together.

Reforming the legislative process  

The new legislative structure seeks efficiency through clear steps and division of responsibilities.  

Only the House of Representatives can propose legislation, and if members of the Central National Assembly and the Senate also want to propose legislation, it must be studied and reviewed by members of the House of Representatives who are experts in their respective fields before it can be enacted. 

 

1. Proposed legislation in the House of Representatives: Experts in each field, recommended by social organizations, review, study, and propose bills that reflect the needs of the people. 

2. Further review in the Central National Assembly: The Central National Assembly reviews the bills adopted by the House of Representatives and sends the bills to the Senate for approval.

3. Final approval by the Senate: Only bills that can contribute to the welfare of the people and the development of society are finally adopted. 

 

The end of party politics and the transition to new politics

The new parliamentary system aims for a politics of social cooperation that does not rely on political parties. Political parties have existed to serve organizational interests, and partisan battles have divided the people and distorted the nature of politics. In the new system, the role of political parties will naturally disappear, and experts, companies, and organizations in various fields will participate in politics and state management together. 

 

Is politics without political parties possible? Politics without political parties is not a pipe dream; it is a way to return to the essence of a political system based on genuine cooperation between people and society.

 

The role of corporations: social responsibility and contribution  

Businesses should participate as members of the National Assembly for the following reasons. Businesses in Korea are the result of the hard work of the people, and as such, they have a responsibility to serve the people and society. In other words, Korean businesses have grown at the expense of the people. 

Korean corporations are composed of many intellectuals, and their families have made great efforts and sacrifices to grow them. Therefore, corporations can be seen as representatives of the people. This should lead to contributions to society and the people, not just private profit. By doing so, companies can gain the trust of the people, fulfill their social responsibilities, and contribute to a fairer and more transparent National Assembly.

 

South Korea is the country to provide the answer to human society 

South Korea is already a country on the world's radar. But we can't lead the world simply through economic growth or technological advancement. What we need to offer humanity is a new political model. A National Assembly where the people are the main actors, where society and business cooperate, and where true law and politics are realized beyond partisanship. This is the answer to the world, and the way for Korea to contribute to the common good of humanity.

 

Dreaming of a new National Assembly

The National Assembly should no longer be an instrument of power and interest. It should exist for the people and be a place of cooperation between society, business, and the people. A three-tier parliamentary system - Senate, the Central National Assembly, and House of Representatives - is one way to make this dream a reality. 

 

We need change. And it can start here and now. Korea is once again ready to provide new answers for the international community. The National Assembly we will create will be the beginning of a new politics, not just for Korea, but for the world.