[Public Opinion Brief 58-2] South Korean National Assembly, Public Opinion Survey in 24 Countries Conducted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

[Public Opinion Brief 58] Perceptions and Evaluations of Democracy Based on Parliamentary Representation and Political Tolerance

1. The Greatest Challenge for Modern Democracy: An Urgent Need to Practice Political Tolerance Beyond Majority Rule

2. South Korean National Assembly, Public Opinion Survey in 24 Countries Conducted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

Perceived Levels of "Representative Function for Women/Minorities" / "Freedom of Expression for Assembly Members" / "Political Tolerance within Parliament"

Lowest Ranks Across All Four Measurement Items

[2009 WPO ․ EAI ․ Maeil Business Newspaper International Survey Results and Rankings]

Note 1: (%) represents the response rate for option 1: "Represented Fairly." out of "1. Represented Fairly. 2. Not Represented Fairly."

Note 2: (%) represents the response rate for option 1: "Mostly True." out of "1. Mostly True. 2. Sometimes (Partially) True. 3. Rarely True."

* : OECD Countries

South Korean National Assembly, Highest Level of Public Distrust in Representative Democracy Functions Among 24 Surveyed Countries

South Korea exhibits the most extreme public skepticism regarding the representative functions of its parliament among the surveyed nations. This finding emerged from a survey on perceptions and evaluations of parliamentary democracy conducted among citizens of 24 countries, organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and involving World Public Opinion, EAI, and Maeil Business Newspaper. The survey investigated public opinion on how well parliaments represent diverse groups such as women and minorities, whether individual members of parliament can express their views according to their conscience, even if it conflicts with party doctrine, and whether the speaking rights of opposition parties and dissenting voices within parliament are fairly allocated and reflected in actual policy. South Korea ranked last in all categories. The survey measured perceptions of parliamentary representation, freedom of expression for assembly members, and political tolerance within parliament.

[Figure 5] Evaluation of Parliamentary Representative Functions: Comparison of 24-Country Average and South Korea Survey (%)

Parliamentary Representative Function: Women and Minorities

Representation of Women: When asked if their country's parliament fairly represents women, the average response across 24 countries indicating fair representation was 49%, approximately half. According to IPU data compiled in July 2009, covering 136 countries worldwide, the proportion of women in parliamentary seats (combining upper and lower houses) was only 18.3% on average. However, public opinion in various countries perceived their parliaments as relatively well-representing women's interests. Azerbaijan (84%), Pakistan (81%), and China (72%) received high evaluations, ranking first, second, and third, respectively. Among developed Western nations, the United States (61%), the United Kingdom (55%), and Germany (52%) exceeded the 50% mark. France, however, scored only 26%, placing it 22nd out of 24 countries. Muslim-majority countries such as Indonesia (38%), Turkey (37%), and Iraq (22%) received relatively low evaluations. South Korea's parliamentary representation of women, according to IPU data, stood at 13.7%, ranking 84th. In this survey, only 22% of South Korean respondents evaluated the parliamentary representation of women as fair, placing South Korea at the bottom along with Iraq.

Regarding the representation of minorities such as ethnic, religious, and foreign groups, only 40% on average across 24 countries responded positively to the survey item on whether their national parliaments fairly represent ethnic and religious minority groups. Paradoxically, 80% of Chinese citizens, amidst serious conflicts surrounding minority ethnic and religious groups like the Falun Gong incident and the recent Xinjiang Uyghur situation, responded that minority groups are fairly represented, ranking first among 24 countries. Nigeria (64%) and Pakistan (60%) followed. Among Western developed countries, the United States (56%) received a majority positive evaluation for its parliament's representative function for minority groups, while the United Kingdom received 48% and Germany 44%, both higher than the overall average. In France, only 21% of citizens responded that parliament adequately represents ethnic and religious minorities, similar to women, ranking 20th out of 23 countries. Only 12% of Korean citizens responded positively regarding parliament's representative function for various social groups, ranking lowest among the 23 surveyed countries.

Freedom of Expression for Assembly Members

The global assessment is more negative regarding the question of whether parliament members freely and fairly express their opinions when they differ from their party's stance. Only 28% on average across 24 countries believe that their country's parliament members are swayed by party doctrine when their personal opinions conflict with it. While Chile (52%) and South Africa (50%) received favorable evaluations from a majority regarding the autonomy of parliament members, negative assessments of parliamentary autonomy were dominant in most other countries. France (31%), which expressed strong negative views on whether parliament represents the interests of various social groups, received relatively higher evaluations compared to other Western developed countries. Overall, the level is very low. The United States (24%) and the United Kingdom (23%), as well as Germany (11%), believe it is difficult for individual parliament members to express dissenting opinions against party doctrine within parliament. Similarly, only 12% of Koreans agreed with the evaluation that individual parliament members can pursue their personal beliefs and judgments instead of party doctrine, also ranking lowest.

Freedom of Expression for Opposition Parties and Autonomy of Assembly Members within Parliament

Directly related to the principle of political tolerance, the survey asked how well the positions and ideas of the opposition within parliament are guaranteed and reflected in government policy processes. Azerbaijan, China, and Palestine were excluded from the survey due to item limitations and internal political environments, making the total number of surveyed countries for this item 21. Among respondents from 24 countries, 37% answered that the opposition and dissenting forces can fairly exercise their right to speak and influence policy. In Poland (56%), South Africa (55%), Chile (54%), and Ukraine (50%), the responses indicated that tolerance for the opposition and the right of minority voices are guaranteed, exceeding a majority. Western developed countries such as the United Kingdom (46%), the United States (45%), Germany (37%), and France (34%) also believe it is not easy to realize the opinions of the opposition and political dissenters within parliament. Notably, Indonesia (15%), Russia (18%), and Turkey (29%), which received largely negative evaluations in other survey items, also showed very negative assessments regarding the opposition's right to speak and policy influence. Korea, at 15%, along with Indonesia, recorded a similarly low score. Overall, amidst a widespread global distrust in parliamentary functions, it is evident that Korean citizens harbor the greatest distrust and dissatisfaction with the functions of the National Assembly of Korea.