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Korean Politics (POLI 133J) , April 26 Presidency & Legislature

Korean Politics (POLI 133J) , April 26 Presidency & Legislature. What are the sources and limitations of presidential power in Korea? 2. How well has Korea’s legislature been functioning? Why? 3. What are the greatest challenges with regard to governability in Korea?.

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Korean Politics (POLI 133J) , April 26 Presidency & Legislature

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  1. Korean Politics (POLI 133J), April 26Presidency & Legislature What are the sources and limitations of presidential power in Korea? 2. How well has Korea’s legislature been functioning? Why? 3. What are the greatest challenges with regard to governability in Korea?

  2. What are the important problems for democratic consolidation in KOR? • Electoral democracy: Firmly established. • Two turnover test • No (attempted) coups • Consolidation requires normative and behavioral commitment to democratic rules by political elites, political parties, and the mass public (Diamond & Shin) • Consolidation as irreversibility • Democratic deepening & maturity • Koreans’ own assessment?

  3. National pride in the way democracy works (Smith 2006)

  4. How is the system of delegation & accountability organized in KOR? • Delegation of authority: Voters President (Prime Minister) Bureaucracy Voters Nat’l Assembly • presidential-parliamentary system? • imperial president? • Judicial review: Constitutional Court

  5. What are the sources & limitations of presidential power in Korea? • Sources of presidential power: -veto, budget making, decree authority • Limitations of presidential power: -National Assembly -Constitutional Court • Is Korea’s presidential power too unlimited or too limited? • Is Korea’s president more or less powerful than American president?

  6. Legislative Autonomy • 5th Republic vs. 6th Republic • Passive in law-making • Weak fiscal control • Paucity of career politicians

  7. How well has Korea’s legislature been functioning? • Not an efficient check on the executive -Short debates and time in committee • Political stalemates & legislative deadlocks • Is Park’s assessment still valid? Any substantial change?

  8. Legislative-Executive Relations • Supremacy of the government in national agenda-setting: “administrative democracy” • Legislative bills • Fusion of executive-legislative power • President = leader of the government + chairmanship of the ruling party  monopolization of nomination power • What should be done? • Constitutional Revision • Strengthening party politics • Strengthening career politicians

  9. Weak Incumbents • Strong “anti-incumbency” (high turnover rate of incumbents) • Comparative context • U.S. House Representatives (1900~2000) • Rerunning rate of incumbents: 88% • Winning rate of rerunned incumbents: 90% • Japanese Diet elections (1890~1990) • Rate of new members: 32% (post-war period: 23%) • Korean National Assembly (1948~2004) • Rerunning rate: 68%/ Winning rate: 49% • Rate of first-termers (2nd~17th): 55% + 2nd termers (24%)

  10. Comparative Context: % First-Termers Diet Elections (Japan) Korea (% out of All Elected) Average: 32% / 23% (post-war) Average (2nd~17th): 2298/4212= 55%

  11. Ratio of First-termers (PR+District)

  12. Trend of re-runners (District only) Re-running: 2074/3060=67% Winning Rate: 1068/2074=49%

  13. A difficult combination of presidentialism w/ multi-partyism Why multi-party system in KOR? • Plurality (243 out of 299 seats) usually leads to 2-party system, but in KOR -----

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  15. Source: Joongang Ilbo (03/11/2009)

  16. 여론조사기관 리얼미터가 지난 1

  17. Most Respected Presidents 1. Park Chung-hee (49.0%) 2. Kim Dae-jung (18.3%) 3. Roh Moo-hyun (7.9%) 4. Chun Doo-whan (3.3%) 5. Syngman Rhee (2.3%) 6. Lee Myung-bak (1.8%) 7. Choi Kyu-ha (0.7%) 8. Kim Young-sam (0.6%) Source: Segye-ilbo (세계일보) 01/30/2009

  18. Reform proposals for democratic consolidation in KOR • Two-term presidency & concurrent elections • Parliamentary system • Expansion of PR • Neutrality of the Speaker • Year-round sessions • Audit and Inspection Board, under NA control

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