▁The ▁depos it ▁system ▁in ▁Japan , ▁model led ▁on ▁that ▁of ▁the ▁UK , ▁was ▁introduced ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁General ▁E lection ▁Law ▁of ▁ 1 9 2 5 ▁to ▁prevent ▁f riv ol ous ▁candidates ▁from ▁running ▁simply ▁for ▁public ity ▁or ▁to ▁dis rupt ▁election ▁campaign s . ▁However , ▁it ▁is ▁sometimes ▁claimed ▁that ▁its ▁real ▁purpose ▁is ▁to ▁limit ▁the ▁number ▁of ▁candidates ▁and ▁make ▁sure ▁that ▁those ▁with ▁financial ▁power ▁also ▁hold ▁political ▁power . ▁H iro sh i ▁K ami w aki , ▁a ▁professor ▁special izing ▁in ▁the ▁Constitution ▁at ▁K obe ▁G aku in ▁University , ▁has ▁argued ▁that ▁it ▁is ▁against ▁Article ▁ 4 4 ▁of ▁the ▁Constitution , ▁which ▁prohib its ▁disc rim ination ▁concerning ▁the ▁el ig ibility ▁of ▁law m akers ▁based ▁on ▁property ▁and ▁income . ▁ ▁South ▁Korea ▁ ▁In ▁South ▁Korea , ▁candidates ▁for ▁election ▁to ▁a ▁constitu ency ▁seat ▁of ▁the ▁National ▁Assembly ▁must ▁pay ▁a ▁depos it ▁of ▁ 1 5 ▁million ▁won , ▁which ▁is ▁re imb urs ed ▁in ▁full ▁if ▁they ▁obtain ▁at ▁least ▁ 1 5 % ▁of ▁the ▁valid ▁votes ▁cast . ▁Half ▁of ▁the ▁amount ▁is ▁re imb urs ed ▁if ▁they ▁receive ▁over ▁ 1 0 % ▁but ▁less ▁than ▁ 1 5 % ▁of ▁the ▁votes . ▁C andid ates ▁running ▁for ▁proportional ▁seats ▁are ▁also ▁required ▁to ▁pay ▁the ▁same ▁amount , ▁which ▁can ▁be ▁re imb urs ed ▁if ▁the ▁party ▁represented ▁wins ▁at