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Prosecutors raided the homes and offices of Yang Jeong-rye, a new lawmaker for the Pro-Park Alliance, and Lee Han-jeong, assemblyman-elect of the minor Renewal of Korea Party on Wednesday, both from their party¡¯s list of candidates who take their seats according to proportional representation. Yang is suspected of lying about the size of her assets and her academic credentials. Lee is suspected of concealing a crime and fabricating information regarding his professional background. Jeong Kuk-kyo, from the United Democratic Party list, was summoned by prosecutors Thursday on suspicions of making a huge profit from insider trading. A search warrant was also issued to raid the house and office of the head of the Pro-Park Alliance.
Prosecutors say they will investigate whether these people paid to be nominated for the party list seats. It would be unacceptable if candidates paid for their positions when the entire country was striving to drive out money politics.
Even without suspicions about their financial dealings, these party list candidates don¡¯t seem to fit the purpose of the proportional representation system, which is to allow professionals and experts from different fields or strata of society who are unlikely to win if they run in district constituencies to enter the National Assembly and boost its diversity and expertise.
The Pro-Park Alliance was formed in protest against what its members claimed was a flawed nomination process in the ruling Grand National Party. Yet it is that very Pro-Park Alliance that has ended up making flawed nominations. The Renewal of Korea Party was formed based on the belief that existing political parties had become corrupt, yet the party has shown itself to be even more corrupt. One GNP lawmaker who won a party list seat says he was told he would represent a region that had been alienated by the party, but the residents there don¡¯t even know who he is.
We must use this opportunity to make some changes. Political parties should nominate candidates for the party list before they nominate those for local constituencies, to permit a thorough vetting process. And if the nomination of party list candidates turns out a sham, then voters should be given a chance to punish the party in the election.
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