일본 선거제도 개혁과 석패율제도의 효과: 한국에의 시사점 = Japanese Election System Reforms and the Effect of Sekihairitsu Rule: Implication to Korean Electoral Reforms

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The Japanese present election system is a combination of the single-seat constituency system and proportional representation. The combined election system was adopted and went into effect to replace the long-standing multi-seat medium-sized constituency election system, which was abolished in January 1994 by a revision of the Public Offices Election Law. Under the system, out of 480 Members, 300 are elected from single-member districts(SMD) and remaining 180 by proportional representation in which the nation is divided into II electoral blocs which according to size return between six and 30 Members. Voters cast two ballots: first, one for an individual candidate in the single-seat constituency, and second, one for a political party in the proportional representation election. The Japanese system is unique in the way the SMD tier interacts with the PR tier. That candidates could run in both tiers, and that the losers in the SMD could be resurrected in the PR. This article argues the positive and negative aspects of the sekihairitsu rule and analysis the political effects of the sekihairitsu rule. The focus of election system reforms in Korea is the enlargement of PR system and the introduction of sekihairitsu rule. The sekihairitsu rule will promote the competition of the intro-party candidates who are not elected from single-seat constituencies. Therefore this rule results in the reinforcement of party activities at the regional level.