South Korea's opposition is set to win in parliamentary elections on April 10, as exit polls conducted by three major broadcasters predicted it increased its majority in a major blow to President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The first official results are expected later on April 10.

Around 184 and 197 seats, an increase from the 156 last parliament, are expected to be won by the Democratic Party(DP) of Lee Jae-Myung, who previously dodged the January knife attack and a myriad of scandals, alongside its satellites. 

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

As for Yoon's People Power Party (PPP) and its satellite party, they are predicted to score 85 to 99 seats, down from 114.

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

Theoretically, all opposition parties combined can overturn Yoon as they may even have scored a super-majority of 200 in the 300-seat parliament, including the new party Rebuilding Korea, led by former justice minister Cho Kuk, set to win 12-14 seats. 

After the vote, as reported by local media, Cho said, "The people have won, the will to judge Yoon Suk Yeol is very clear."

Left vs. right

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In the 2022 closest-ever presidential elections, Yoon beat Lee and took the steps to move away from the DPRK while growing closer to Washington and Japan, according to AFP.

However, as he attempts to fight off graft probes he labels as politically driven, Lee is expected to get his revenge in this election, the news agency added. 

Due to the PPP's lack of control of the National Assembly affecting Yoon's conservative legislative plans, his popularity has been fumbling even hitting the low 30s ever since the start of his presidency, AFP said.

Yoon's plans include laid-out healthcare reforms, backed by voters but protested by doctors, and a promise to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality, it added. 

The DP prefers a less hawkish approach toward Pyongyang, and Lee has made several pro-China remarks, AFP said. 

Jeremiah Shim, 40, a pastor, said people in his congregation are finding it difficult to get by due to rising food prices as he told AFP, "I support (Lee). His history and life journey are very impressive. Many people think he can change our future."

A shift in demographics 

A Korean studies professor at the University of Notre Dame told AFP that "voters over 60 represent a formidable and staunchly conservative base for Yoon."

The news agency said that younger Koreans have been sidelined by a political class dominated by older men who neglect their concerns with many believing that this was highlighted by the 2022 Halloween crowd crush in Seoul that resulted in the death of more than 150 majority young people. 

The younger generation is also involved in an economic battle with competition in education, fewer job opportunities, and rocketing housing costs, AFP added.

Business owner Kim Yong-ho, 24, said outside a polling station in Seoul's Gwangjin district, "There is definitely less interest in this election among the people around me than last time. I think it is because they feel rather disappointed."

Many voters were also put off by the tone of the campaign as it is scarce in substantive policy debate and tainted instead by calls to imprison Lee or punish Yoon, alongside hate speech and disinformation online that might trigger attacks like the one on Lee, AFP said. 

Kim Do-kyung, 47, an activist for migrant women and their children, told AFP, "I am truly ashamed of our country's politics and government."