Gwangju Electoral Districts Reorganized, Partial Introduction of 'Medium-Large' Constituencies

Gwangju's provincial council electoral district reorganization plan has been finalized, approving the partial introduction of medium-large constituencies and an increase of four local seats. This reform adjusts the total number of districts from 20 to 15, bringing the total number of local seats to 24, an increase of four.

Nam District will be reorganized by merging existing constituencies 1 and 2, electing three members. Buk District will integrate constituencies 1, 2, and 3 to elect four members, and combine constituencies 5 and 6 to elect three members. Gwangsan District will see existing constituencies 3 and 5, along with part of constituency 4, merged to elect three members.

The Democratic Party's Gwangju chapter held an emergency briefing for its candidates to inform them about changes in the nomination process under the new electoral district system. The Democratic Party plans to hold separate primaries for candidates eliminated in medium-large constituency races to nominate additional candidates equivalent to the increased number of seats. Chae Jong, head of policy for the Democratic Party's Gwangju chapter, announced that primaries for the four newly added seats will proceed after the party's standing committee resolution.

Medium-large constituencies, which elect three or more members per district, are designed to increase the chances of minority party candidates winning. However, some constituencies where progressive party candidates were assessed to have strong competitiveness have been excluded from this reform.

The issue of population proportionality between Jeonnam and Gwangju districts, arising from regional integration, remains unresolved (raising constitutional concerns). The chairman of Cho Kuk Innovation Party's Gwangju chapter criticized the oversight of the unconstitutional issue concerning the integrated special city's provincial council elections. Progressive and reform-oriented opposition parties, while positively assessing the increase of four local seats due to the introduction of medium-large constituencies, questioned the fulfillment of political reform promises due to the minimal increase in the proportion of proportional representatives.