In the lead-up to South Korea’s general election this April, main opposition Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung has decided that the party will adhere to the semi-mixed-member-proportional (MMP) system, which the country adopted in 2020.

This decision comes despite the ruling People Power Party’s (PPP) criticism that the MMP system complicates the electoral process and potentially favors the DP through the use of satellite parties. The move has also been questioned by various other stakeholders, including other DP lawmakers.

Lee’s decision to retain this system is particularly contentious because it was originally intended to improve representation for smaller parties