
AP Photo
The main reason for the increase in the number of women MPs was the introduction of a quota system, according to which South Korea’s political parties should ensure that 30% of their candidates are women. The campaign-finance law was revised to provide additional government funding to parties that meet the quota, and to reduce the amount for parties that do not. As a result, more than half of the 56 members elected through proportional representation in 2004 were women. Moreover, 10% of government funding to political parties is now used for the advancement of women in politics, with each party establishing institutions for training women MPs and candidates.
TAGGED: Ahn Cheol-soo,
Park Geun-hye,
South Korea