Seoul: In South Korean general election, the liberal opposition party has won a sweeping majority to maintain control of parliament. The Democratic Party (DPK) and other opposition parties jointly secured 192 out of 300 seats in the National Assembly.
The election is seen as an interim assessment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who still owns three years left in office. Following the defeat, his party leader Han Dong-hoon resigned, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo proposed stepping down.
The recent election resulted in a significant defeat for Yoon and his People Power Party (PPP). They were stumbling to advance their agenda in a legislative body that was overpowered by the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). With the DPK’s victory, they will be able to expedite and pass rulings more efficiently.
In South Korea’s electoral system, both the DPK and PPP make use of breakaway satellite parties to maximise their votes. This system assigns seats to smaller parties that do not meet the overall support threshold.
DPK leader Lee Jae-myung stated that, “This isn’t the Democratic Party’s victory but a great victory for the people. Politicians on both sides of the aisle must pool our strength to deal with the current economic crisis. The Democratic Party will lead the way in solving the livelihood crisis.”
The outcome of this election result could empower Lee, who narrowly lost the presidential election to Yoon in 2022, to run for president again. Currently, Yoon encounters several challenges, including rising food prices, ageing populations, and doctor strikes.
Earlier this month, he was criticised for seeming unaware of how inflation affects voters. Only last month, he confronted objection for commenting during his visit to a supermarket in Seoul that a bundle of green onions priced at 875 won (£0.51; $0.65) was ‘reasonable.’
It was initially sold at a discounted cost due to subsidies, and its actual price ranged between 3,000 and 4,000 won. This statement caused a negative response, leading to the usage of bunches of green onions as symbols of protest by farmers and at DPK election rallies.
Additionally, Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, was accused of receiving a luxury bag as a gift. Furthermore, senior officials in the party faced accusations of corruption and misuse of power. The DPK struggled with internal conflicts and political scandals and was accused of corruption.
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