Opposition Party in South Korea Secures Major Win in Legislative Elections

© JUNG YEON-JEPeople Power Party’s leader Han Dong-hoon
People Power Party’s leader Han Dong-hoon - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 11.04.2024
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - On Wednesday, South Korea held its legislative elections. Early voting opened on 5 April and lasted until 7 April. Overall turnout was estimated at 67%, an increase of 0.8% from 2020, and the highest recorded for a legislative election in South Korea since 1992, the country's election authority said.
South Korea's opposition Democratic Party and its satellite Democratic United Party have won a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections, winning 175 of the 300 seats in the National Assembly, the South Korean National Election Commission said on Thursday after processing 100% of the ballots.
South Korea's ruling People Power Party (PPP) and its satellite People Future Party won a total of 108 seats in the parliament. The Rebuilding Korea Party led by former Justice Minister Cho Kuk became the third-largest in parliament with 12 seats, while the New Reform Party led by former PPP leader Lee Jun-seok won three seats, and the New Future Party and the Progressive Party won one seat each.
Following the defeat of the ruling party in the elections, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon stepped down to take responsibility for the voting results.

"I apologize to people on behalf of our party, which fell short of receiving people's support ... I solemnly accept the will of the people and deeply reflect on myself. I take full responsibility for the election results and step down," South Korean news agency quoted Han as saying.

In this Friday, Nov. 29, 2013 photo, visitors take their souvenir photos in front of a huge South Korean national flag hang on the wall of the prison building at Seodaemun Prison History Hall in Seoul, South Korea.  - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 30.10.2023
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South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has vowed to reform the country's administration following the defeat of his party.
"I will humbly accept the will of the people expressed in the general election, and will strive to reform the administration and do my best to stabilize the economy and enhance people's livelihoods," media quoted presidential chief of staff Lee Kwan-seop as saying in a statement attributable to Yoon.
News agencies also quoted a senior presidential official as saying that the administration "will soon take time to reflect on the results and their cause, and make further announcements," adding that this can be interpreted as Yoon's willingness to cooperate more closely and exchange views with the country's opposition.
South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Lee, as well as two other senior presidential aides, offered their resignation to take responsibility for the defeat in the election, the news agency cited Yoon's office as saying.
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