Integrated Jinju-si Council
First Integrated Jinju-si Council (1995.1.1∼1995.6.30)
According to the Act on the Establishment of 22 Si Mixing City and Urban including Namyangju-si Gyeonggi-do proclaimed as Act No. 4774 on August 3rd, 1994, Jinju-si and Jinyang-gun, both of which had almost same living area, were integrated to promote mutual development between city and urban areas, resulting in integrated Jinju-si, from which on December 31st, 1994, the 4th Jinju-si Council Members and the 1st Jinyang-gun Council expired their terms of office and the first Jinju-si Council integrating the existing 27 members of Jinju-si council and 16 members of Jinyang-gun council started their terms of office on January 1st, 1995.
Second Jinju-si Council (1995∼1998)
In the 4 Local Elections(Metropolitan and Local Councils, Mayor/Governor and Magistrates) according to the Act on Official Post Elections and Illegal Electioneering Prevention, The 2nd Integrated Jinju-si Council Election was held on July 27th, 1995, when 129 candidates from 42 election districts excluding Pyeonggeo-dong, where no member of the council was assigned, were run for the election and totally, 45 members of the council were elected including each two additional members from Sanbongseo-dong and Dangdae il(1)-dong, where citizens more than additionally twenty thousands of population lived in, and they were organzied as the 2nd Jinju-si council on July 12th, 1995. The term of office of the 2nd Jinju-si Council was fixed up to June 30th, 1998 according to Article 4, Additional Rule of the Local Government Act revised as No.4741 on March 16th, 1995.
Third Jinju-si Council (1998∼2002)
Election SystemThe local election system has changed the election campaign strategies as well as the adjustment of quota of local councils as the Act on Official Post Elections and Illegal Electioneering Prevention, which had been proclaimed on April 30th, 1998, was revised. The important revision contains the reduced quota of local council members, abolition of business card type printings and placard, reduced number of election speech and curtailment of paid election volunteers/staff, reinforced trust money refund conditions, extended campaign funding, appeasement of residual conditions for eligibility for election, prohibition of the mayor/governor/head's running for another office during the term and others.
The revision can be simply summarized into the reduced number of council members. The election districts of metropolitan council was maintained as the existing small electoral district while the number of self governing gu/si/gun(if one gu/si/gun is divided into two and more regional election districts of the National Assembly Member, it is for each election region) was reduced from 3 to 2 while the lower limit of metropolitan council was uniformly coordinated to 14(17 including proportional representatives). The election of regional council was set to elect 1 per eup/myeon/dong but any dong of which population is lower than 5, 000 was integrated into the close eup/myeon/dong while the lower limit of council member was set to 7. Then, the residential condition for eligibility for election was mitigated from 90 days continuously up to the date of election to 60 days and longer.
Election and voting
The revision can be simply summarized into the reduced number of council members. The election districts of metropolitan council was maintained as the existing small electoral district while the number of self governing gu/si/gun(if one gu/si/gun is divided into two and more regional election districts of the National Assembly Member, it is for each election region) was reduced from 3 to 2 while the lower limit of metropolitan council was uniformly coordinated to 14(17 including proportional representatives). The election of regional council was set to elect 1 per eup/myeon/dong but any dong of which population is lower than 5, 000 was integrated into the close eup/myeon/dong while the lower limit of council member was set to 7. Then, the residential condition for eligibility for election was mitigated from 90 days continuously up to the date of election to 60 days and longer.
The turnout of 1998's local election was 52.6%, which was the second lowest in the history of elections. In the election of the 3rd Jinju-si council, 73 candidates stood for the election electing 37 members, resulting in the competitive rate of approximately 2:1 but if excluding 11 regions, where no member was assigned, there was 2.38:1 competitive rate. On the election as of June, 4th, 37 members were elected from 26 election districts excluding some districts without voting including Munsan-eup, Gangnam-dong, Chilam-dong, Gaho-dong, Jinseong-myeon, Daegok-myeon, Geumsa-myeon, Bongsu-dong, Okbong-dong and Sangdae i(2)-dong. In the voting, excluding the above-mentioned 11 districts, 110,341 voters from 235,567 eligible voters voted, showing the 69.45% of voting rate.
Fourth Jinju-si Council (2002∼2006)
In the 4th Jinju-si Council Election as of June 13th, 2002, it was only 6 months before the presidential election was held, and it seemed to strongly represent the preliminary presidential election through the intended public nomination of each political party. In terms of electoral system, it featured the proportional representative system like political party register for the election of si/provincial council members, obliged recommendation of 50% and more female candidates in the election of proportional representatives and cyber campaign using IT and internet, and the quota was confirmed to totally 36 members from each 37 eup/myeon/dong and each additional member from Jungang-dong and Bongsu-dong, in the single-member electorate system. In the election, totally 73 candidates ran for the election at 2:1 competitive rate while 7 election districts including Ibanseong-myeon, Daegok-myeon, Micheon-myeon, Daepyeong-myeon, Seongji-dong, Bongan-dong and Hadae il(1)-dong had only one candidates, all of whom were elected without voting. In the election, 143,439 voters among 242,187 electorate participated in the voting, showing 59.2% turnout, relatively high.
Fifth Jinju-si Council (2006∼2010)
Election SystemAs it was changed to the medium constituency system to elect 2 ~ 4 candidates in an election district according to the Official Post Election Act proclaimed as No.7681 on August 4th, 2005, the Provincial Council Election District was divided into two, resulting in 8 election districts, electing 18 local district members and 3 proportional members, totally 21 members of the council. Especially, the election of eup/myeon/dong local council also introduced the proportional representatives like political party's list and the local council members also introduced the political party's recommendation.
The revision contains the grant of suffrage in local election to foreigners who live in the territory, the age limit mitigated from 20 yrs old to 19 yrs old, mitigated reporting requirement of mail voter, extended in-party competition to recommend a political party's candidate, registration of preliminary candidate in every election, abolition of small printings, abolition of joint election speech, introduction of placard, Internet election campaign introduction, abolition of election management committee of voting district, introduction of eup/myeon/dong election management committee and voting management system while the Act was mainly focused on free election campaign and election system improvement.
Election and voting
The revision contains the grant of suffrage in local election to foreigners who live in the territory, the age limit mitigated from 20 yrs old to 19 yrs old, mitigated reporting requirement of mail voter, extended in-party competition to recommend a political party's candidate, registration of preliminary candidate in every election, abolition of small printings, abolition of joint election speech, introduction of placard, Internet election campaign introduction, abolition of election management committee of voting district, introduction of eup/myeon/dong election management committee and voting management system while the Act was mainly focused on free election campaign and election system improvement.
In the local election of 2006, 145,277 voters among the total 252,537 electorate voted, showing 57.5% voting rate, which was 1.7% lower than the previous one, 59.2%. It may be analyzed that the introduction of medium constituency system and political party's public nomination caused the lower rate, and that the higher competitive rate to 2.8:1(60 candidates run for 21 members) would be d ue to the election system electing 2 ~ 3 members in an election district. In the election, the introduction of political party membership caused more independent members be invalid.
Sixth Jinju-si Council (2010~2014)
Election SystemThe 5th Nationwide Local Elections held on June 2, 2010 which celebrated 20th year anniversary of the reinitiated local elections, were meaningful elections in terms of politics, administration and education. 8 elections including local elections that allow political parties to recommend candidates, and education council and superintendent elections which prohibit political parties’ participation in elections were both held for the first time in Korean election history.
However, primary elections for securing democracy and fairness in nominating candidates were not successful and the Jury Nomination System major parties adopted for the first time also fell short of expectations. Also, the Mandatory Female Candidate Nomination System, Four Major Rivers Project and free school means were key issues in the local elections but it was disappointing to see regulations being applied to advocacy and opposition activities for those issues.
Election and voting
However, primary elections for securing democracy and fairness in nominating candidates were not successful and the Jury Nomination System major parties adopted for the first time also fell short of expectations. Also, the Mandatory Female Candidate Nomination System, Four Major Rivers Project and free school means were key issues in the local elections but it was disappointing to see regulations being applied to advocacy and opposition activities for those issues.
For the 2010 Local Elections, with 164,428 out of 254,687 voters casting their votes, the voter turnout has increased 5.3% from the previous elections at 64.5%. This was the highest voter turnout in the history of local elections. The key factors that led to this result were the adoption of the medium constituency system and parties’ recommendation of candidates. The council size was reduced by 1 to 20 (including 2 proportional representatives) and it was expected that the council election would be overrun with candidates but 45 candidates ran for the election, putting the competition rate at 2.2 to 1. The election results brought a change to Jinju City Council which was previously dominated by The Grand National Party-Hannara holding 20 seats in the 5th Council. An opposition party and independent candidates were successful in the election and the council came to be comprised of 8 candidates from Saenuri Party, 10 independent candidates and 3 candidates from The Unified Progressive Party winning the election.
Seventh Jinju-si Council (2014~2018)
Election SystemThe 6th Nationwide Local Elections held on June 4, 2014, was the first nationwide elections held since the start of a new administration. Before the elections, discussions on whether to maintain or abolish the Candidate Recommendation System, launch of a new political party from the merger of opposition parties, turning the tables around and condemning the previous administration were the biggest issues and, it was expected that the campaigns would be fierce with parties trying to dominate the elections.
But the Sewol ferry tragedy that occurred during the campaign period casted the nation into deep grief and political parties and their candidates all stop their campaigns and mourned for the lost lives. Although the solemn atmosphere swept over the nation during the campaign period with candidates abstaining from public speeches and campaign songs, the amended Public Official Election Act allowed campaigns on social media and the online campaigns were more intense than ever.
Also, as the Early Voting System was introduced for the first time and the election resulted in record voter turnout at 56.8% since the first nationwide elections. It was regarded that the Early Voting System has made voting significantly conveniently for the voters. The adoption of the Rotated Listing System for superintendent candidates’ names, changes to the right to vote and electoral eligibility, increased disclosure of candidates’ information, abolition of educational council elections, increased voting time for workers and the newly established National Election Survey Deliberation Commission were key issues in the elections.
Election and voting
But the Sewol ferry tragedy that occurred during the campaign period casted the nation into deep grief and political parties and their candidates all stop their campaigns and mourned for the lost lives. Although the solemn atmosphere swept over the nation during the campaign period with candidates abstaining from public speeches and campaign songs, the amended Public Official Election Act allowed campaigns on social media and the online campaigns were more intense than ever.
Also, as the Early Voting System was introduced for the first time and the election resulted in record voter turnout at 56.8% since the first nationwide elections. It was regarded that the Early Voting System has made voting significantly conveniently for the voters. The adoption of the Rotated Listing System for superintendent candidates’ names, changes to the right to vote and electoral eligibility, increased disclosure of candidates’ information, abolition of educational council elections, increased voting time for workers and the newly established National Election Survey Deliberation Commission were key issues in the elections.
With 165,320 out of 268,027 voters casting their votes, the turnout in the 2014 local election was 61.6% which was 2.6% lower than that of the previous election. It was initially expected that the adoption of the Early Voting System would increase the turnout but because of the nationwide mourning of the Sewol ferry incident, there wasn’t much election atmosphere this year. Also, with the Candidate Recommendation System which about to be abolished still remaining, it was expected that there would be a very fierce primary election among the candidates. The council size was set to 20 (including 2 proportional representatives). 40 candidates ran for the election, putting the competition rate at 2 to 1. Unlike the 6th council election in which an opposition party and independent candidates highly succeeded, the 7th council election ended with the ruling party dominating the election and making the council be comprised of 8 candidates from Saenuri Party, 6 independent candidates and 1 from the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD).
Eighth Jinju-si Council (2018~2022)
The 7th Nationwide Local Elections held on June 13, 2018 was the largest-ever local elections in history. 3,512 early voting stations and 14,135 regular voting stations were installed around the nation, the numbers of district, city and county council members and electoral districts changed and compared to the 6th Nationwide Local Elections held in 2014, 64 more council members were elected.
Jinju City Council was formed with 18 members from electoral districts and 3 proportional representatives. Jinju City’ voter turnout was 67.7% and this was 7.5% higher than the national average of 60.2%. 190,844 casted ballots out of 282,049 eligible voters
The 7th Nationwide Local Elections resulted in seats divided with balance. The Democratic Party of Korea took 21 seats, Liberty Korean Party 10 seats, People's Democracy Party 1 seat and an independent member took a seat as well.
Jinju City Council was formed with 18 members from electoral districts and 3 proportional representatives. Jinju City’ voter turnout was 67.7% and this was 7.5% higher than the national average of 60.2%. 190,844 casted ballots out of 282,049 eligible voters
The 7th Nationwide Local Elections resulted in seats divided with balance. The Democratic Party of Korea took 21 seats, Liberty Korean Party 10 seats, People's Democracy Party 1 seat and an independent member took a seat as well.
