한국 선거정치에 있어서 실질적 기회균등을 위한 제도개선 방안: 현직의원과 도전자의 형평성 및 선거공영제를 중심으로

Abstract

From the perspective of inclusive democracy, Korean politics needs more to help new and minor parties, and freshmen and disadvantaged candidates. The way for this endeavor should designed in a way to make it sure that a substantive degree of equality of opportunity should be guaranteed through fair electoral competition. With this reform vision in mind, this article diagnoses some problems within the current legal system at the most general level, and proposes some reform areas and their solutions, partly relying upon the ideas suggested by scholars and practitioners. To be more specific, this article discusses the ways for more equal and fair competition between incumbents and challengers, and for more rational management of the current government financing of campaigns. It also addresses remedies for the cases where candidates suddenly exit the campaign without paying back the government campaign subsidy theywere already paid. In conclusion, despite the Korean politics having stepped on the path of democratic deepening, it needs to be more fair in terms of electoral competition and campaign financing. Since the current system largely favors the major parties and their candidates at the cost of the minor parties and their candidates, it needs to be revised for wider political participation.