Regional Self-government and Women's Political Participation
In anticipation of the upcoming 1995 Regiona1 Assembly member elections, the Korean Women's Associations United (KWAU) has declared as its goal the securing of 20 percent of Regional Assembly seats for women.
With this 1ong-term goal, KWAU also held a discussion forum on May 27. 1994 with women Regiona1 Assembly members experienced in regional grassroots movements. The forum, entitled 'Three Years of Regional Self-government and the O.9% Challenge.' was intended to evaluate the past three years of regional self-govemment.
The forum brought together women Assembly members who have struggled in a heavily male-dominated political system in which 99.1 percent of Regional Assembly seats are occupied by men. These women leaders included Choi Soon-young (Buchon City). Kim Hye-kyung (Kwan-ak Gu), Moon Soo-jung (Kuro Ku), and Hong Mi-young (Inchon City, Buk Gu). The forum provided an opportunity for participants to listen to these women's experiences in regional government and to consider ways in which women's political participation can contribute to Korea's political development overall.
Hong describes her experience as 'the feeling of hanging on to a moving bus for three years.' In an arena in which lobbying and seniority-based politics dominate and women are treated as mere decorative flowers rather than equal participants, survival for the women Assembly members was certainly not easy.
Choi. for example, made the effort to encourage wide resident participation and consensus through public signature petitions. informal discussions, and public hearings. She was influential in the enactment of a city ordinance prohibiting cigarette dispensers.
In addition, Kim reduced the W168,000,000 Ku budget allotted from resident taxes for trash bags, of which only W30,000,000 to W40,000 000 has been used. The amount saved was transferred to funds for social welfare purposes.
Having witnessed election-rigging during the elections for Assembly chairperson, Moon alone exposed, through media report actions that were ignored by the 49 other male Assembly members and forced another round of elections for Assembly chairperson.
Through these various efforts by women Assembly members. politics has become more of a part of everyday life for regional residents. Moreover contradictions of the male-dominated political system are being pointed out and political solutions sought for issues concerning women.
In order for a healthy, grassroots democracy to take root in the regions, women's po1itical power must be actively fostered into a practical and healthy political culture. Such efforts to change the political culture on a smal1 scale will without doubt help pave the road towards a democratic society.