- South Korea’s liberal opposition party wins parliament by a landslide
- Senior ruling party officials reportedly offer resignations after devastating defeat
- President Yoon Suk Yeol faces severe political setback
President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has three years remaining in office and has been contending with low approval ratings and a liberal opposition-controlled parliament that has constrained his major policy platforms, has been dealt a devastating political setback by the election results.
Parliamentary elections in South Korea have been won by the liberal opposition party by an overwhelming margin; senior ruling party politicians have reportedly offered to resign in the wake of the devastating defeat.
The outcomes of the election held on Wednesday deal President Yoon Suk Yeol, who remains in office for the next three years, a severe political setback.
The resignations of senior advisers to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Mr Yoon have been reported by various South Korean media outlets, including the Yonhap news agency.
Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the ruling conservative People Power Party and the driving force behind its election campaign, announced his resignation and acceptance of responsibility for the defeat at a separate news conference.
He stated, “I apologise to the people on behalf of our party, which failed to secure the support of the electorate.”
Mr Yoon declared that he would “humbly” embrace the outcome of the election, which was widely regarded as a referendum on his presidency in the midterms. He also vowed to reform state affairs and improve the economic conditions of the people.
The Democratic Party, led by Lee Jae-myung, and its auxiliary party appeared to have won a combined 175 seats in the 300-member National Assembly after the majority of votes were tallied.
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According to projections, a splinter liberal party deemed an ally of the DP was anticipated to win 12 seats.
Nevertheless, the result deprives the coalition of the necessary 200 seats to secure a supermajority, thereby denying it the legislative authority to override vetoes and potentially impeach the president.
It was anticipated that the PPP of Mr. Yoon and its auxiliary party would have secured 108 seats.
His main policy platforms have been constrained by a liberal opposition-controlled parliament and low approval ratings.
Later on Thursday, an official announcement of the results is anticipated.
