A Study on the Improvement of Power Structure and Election System for the integration of political and social conflicts: Centered on the 20th presidential election
Authors:   Korean Constitutional Law Asscciation, Kim Jung-Hyun 
Published: August 2022

During the 20th presidential election process, in addition to ideological and regional conflicts, which were chronic ills of Korean politics, gender conflicts and generational conflicts developed to a very serious level. The results showed that the candidates for support differed significantly depending on region, generation, and gender. If this trend continues, it is highly likely that politics will deeply entrench political hatred beyond political apathy throughout society by failing to perform its original role, social integration, and only playing a reverse function that deepens and triggers conflict.
The current presidential system implies a winner-take-all structure, making it impossible to divide power. The election system fixes the two-party structure, limiting the people's various political options, and deepening the confrontation between the two political forces. There are pros and cons of the system, and it is necessary to choose the system over how to solve the problems of Korean society.
Social integration is not only impossible under a system in which politics does not resolve various conflicts in society and expands social conflicts into political conflicts, but it can also lead to a crisis situation in the country. It is time for constitutional concerns to be fiercely demanded.
Politics should be changed to a power structure that can be achieved on the basis of compromise and cooperation. To this end, it is desirable to change the four-year term of office to a four-year term of office and elect the president by a runoff vote, but to elect half of the members in the general election in the early half of the administration and the other half in the midterm elections. The public will have the opportunity to conduct an interim evaluation of the president and the National Assembly through two parliamentary elections. If a representative can be evaluated every two years to give prizes and punishments, it will be difficult for a imperial president or an irresponsible National Assembly to exist.
If the National Assembly has the right to recommend the prime minister, it will be able to play an active role in selecting the prime minister if the opposition party wins the two-year parliamentary elections. It may also be possible to form a coalition government between the ruling and opposition parties. In addition, it is necessary to revise Article 28 of the “Act on the Operation of Public Institutions” to adjust the term of the head of a public institution from three years to two years, like directors and auditors. If the opposition party wins the parliamentary elections in line with the presidential and parliamentary elections, it should pave the way for the opposition party to recommend the heads of public institutions.
We must be able to guarantee the pluralities of politics. If the president is elected on a runoff system, and the two-year parliamentary elections are elected based on the multimember district system, a new way for minority parties can be opened. The presidential candidate of the minority party is not forced to resign, but can unite according to the results of the first round of voting. If various political forces coexist in the National Assembly due to the entry of minority parties, they can act as a coordinator in the conflict phase.
It should be reorganized into a constitutional system based on compromise and securing pluralism. Only then can political forces move in a direction that can coordinate and integrate conflicts.