Amid S. Korea elections slap, PPP head resigns, Yoon promises 'reform'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
11 Apr 2024 08:51

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and a group of senior aides offered to resign alongside People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon.

South Korea's ruling People Power Party's leader Han Dong-hoon gestures during his press conference at the party's headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP)

Following the opposition's expected landslide win in the elections, the head of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's party resigned today while Yoon promised "reform".

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and a group of senior aides suggested resigning alongside People Power Party's (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon, local media reported.

Professor of Political Science at Myongji University Shin Yul said, "There will be even more extreme confrontation between Yoon and the opposition in the next parliament, especially with the election of candidates vowing a very hawkish stance on his administration."

"It won't be easy for people to see bipartisan cooperation," he told AFP.

Chae Jin-won of Humanitas College at Kyung Hee University told AFP that if Yoon fails to figure out how to cooperate with the opposition, there is a "likelihood of impeachment, which some factions in the ruling party may comply with for the sake of their own political futures."

Great victory for the people

The Democratic Party's (DP) Lee Jae-Myung said today, "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," he added.

Lee's policies, including cash handouts to young adults, free school uniforms, and maternity care, have won great support.

Results and implications

Yesterday, South Korea held its 22nd general election, and the overall voter turnout was 67 percent, i.e. nearly 29.7 million people cast their ballots, according to the National Election Commission (NEC).

It marked the highest-ever turnout for a parliamentary election, though the numbers were down from the 2022 presidential vote that narrowly brought Yoon to power.

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) of Lee Jae-Myung was projected to garner 175 of the 300 seats in the new assembly, data from the National Election Commission and network broadcasters showed with all votes counted as of 10:32 am (0132 GMT).

A DP liberal satellite was expected to take at least 10 seats, projections showed.

Local media reported Lee as saying after the vote, "I'll watch the people's choice with a humble heart."

“When voters chose me, it was your judgment against the Yoon Suk Yeol administration and you are giving the Democratic Party the duty to take responsibility for the livelihood of the people and create a better society,” he added.

Lee won a seat in the city of Incheon to the west of the capital, Seoul, against a conservative heavyweight candidate considered a major ally of the president.

On its part, President Yoon Suk-yeol's People Power Party (PPP) was projected to win just over 100 seats, meaning Yoon would avoid the super-majority of a two-third opposition control that could break presidential vetoes and pass constitutional amendments.

Meanwhile, following the elections, Yonhap News Agency reported that PPP leader Han Dong-hoon said that "exit polls are disappointing... We will watch the vote count."