Opposition scores major victory in South Korean parliamentary polls

Members of the Democratic Party of Korea cheer after joint exit poll results for South Koreas parliamentary elections were released on April 10 YONHAP PHOTO — Members of the Democratic Party of Korea cheer after joint exit poll results for South Korea's parliamentary elections were released on April 10. [YONHAP PHOTO]

SEOUL, April 11 (AJU PRESS) - The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and its satellite party scored a major victory in Wednesday’s general elections, securing a comfortable majority of 175 out of 300 National Assembly seats up for grabs.

This is another major setback for President Yoon Suk Yeol and the ruling People Power Party (PPP), which managed to win 108 seats.

The wider opposition bloc, including the Rebuilding Korea Party led by former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, has won 187 seats combined. Cho's party secured 12 proportional seats, becoming the third largest party of South Korea following the DP and the PPP.

The New Future Party (Saemirae), formed by former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, and the New Reform Party led by ousted former PPP leader Lee Jun-seok secured one and three seats, respectively, while the leftist Jinbo Party had one seat.

The election results may weigh on the Yoon administration with Yoon still having three years to finish his five-year term.

Approximately 29.66 million people, representing 66.2 percent of South Korea's 44.28 million voters, participated in the 22nd parliamentary elections through a total of 14,259 polling stations across the country. This year's general elections showed the highest-ever voting rate of 67 percent compared to the previous record-high of 66.2 percent in the 2020 general elections.

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com

Opposition scores major victory in South Korean parliamentary polls

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