{"id":2204646,"date":"2024-04-11T08:00:42","date_gmt":"2024-04-10T23:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2204646"},"modified":"2024-04-11T07:18:50","modified_gmt":"2024-04-10T22:18:50","slug":"south-koreas-opposition-triumphs-in-general-elections-dealing-blow-to-yoon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/04\/south-koreas-opposition-triumphs-in-general-elections-dealing-blow-to-yoon\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea\u2019s opposition triumphs in general elections, dealing blow to Yoon"},"content":{"rendered":"
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has <\/span>retained its majority<\/span><\/a> in South Korea\u2019s 22nd parliamentary election, with the ruling People Power Party (PPP) facing its third consecutive defeat.<\/span><\/p>\n The DP won 161 out of 254 directly contested seats in the National Assembly. In contrast, the PPP secured only 90 seats, primarily in its southeastern stronghold. Including proportional seats, the DP is expected to win 176 seats and the PPP 109 seats in the 300-member National Assembly.<\/span><\/p>\n Former justice minister Cho Kuk\u2019s Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP) is expected to secure 12 to 14 proportional seats, meaning that the wider DP-RKP bloc is expected to win 188 to 190 seats combined. However, this figure falls short of the two-thirds supermajority required to dominate the legislature, which requires a minimum of 200 seats.<\/span><\/p>\n Why It Matters<\/b><\/p>\n The election outcome is a significant blow to President Yoon Suk-yeol and the PPP. The PPP\u2019s continued status as a minor ruling party will impede the administration\u2019s reform agenda, making Yoon the first South Korean president to complete a full term without the support of a majority ruling party. However, the conservatives avoided the worst possible outcome of the opposition bloc securing a 200-seat supermajority, which would have nullified Yoon\u2019s veto power.<\/span><\/p>\n While the combined DP-RKP bloc will be able to fast-track legislation, it remains to be seen if it will be able to carry out its proposed special counsel investigations successfully. For instance, RKP leader Cho Kuk pledged to propose a special counsel investigation into <\/span>Yoon and PPP interim leader Han Dong-hoon<\/span><\/a>, focusing on allegations of impropriety during Yoon\u2019s tenure as prosecutor-general. Cho also promised to initiate a special probe into the alleged stock manipulation crimes involving <\/span>first lady Kim Keon-hee<\/span><\/a> and her mother if the DP-RKP bloc secured 200 seats. Without the supermajority, the bloc will find it challenging to overcome Yoon\u2019s veto.<\/span><\/p>\n Moreover, Cho could still lose his <\/span>seat<\/span><\/a> if South Korea\u2019s Supreme Court upholds his two-year prison term. Cho received a <\/span>two-year prison sentence<\/span><\/a> and a fine of $4,700 (6 million won) in Feb. 2023 for his involvement in forging documents for his children\u2019s higher education admissions, among other charges.<\/span><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Yoon\u2019s domestic agenda, including deregulation, tax cuts and the closure of the gender ministry, will likely be stymied. Additionally, Yoon will likely face pressure from within the PPP to <\/span>resign<\/span><\/a> from the party. The general election has been widely perceived as a referendum on the president\u2019s leadership, and ruling party lawmakers will likely see Yoon\u2019s continued membership in the party as a liability in the 2027 presidential election.<\/span><\/p>\n