South Korean voters have given extended opposition control of parliament, posing a political challenge to conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol. The election results are seen as a setback to Yoon's presidency and could make him a lame duck for the remaining three years in office.
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea n voters have handed liberals extended opposition control of parliament in what looks like a massive political setback to conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol. Some experts say the results of Wednesday’s parliamentary elections make Yoon 'a lame duck' — or even 'a dead duck' — for his remaining three years in office. Others disagree, saying Yoon still has many policy levers and could aggressively push his foreign policy agenda.
But it’s certain that the election outcome poses the toughest political challenge to Yoon since the former top prosecutor took office in 2022 for a single five-year term. Here is a look at what the election results mean to Yoon and South Korean politics. HOW DAMAGED IS YOON POLITICALLY? Even before Yoon's inauguration, South Korea's single-chamber National Assembly was controlled by the liberal Democratic Party.
The election results boosted the political standing of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party chairman who lost the hotly contested 2022 presidential election to Yoon. Lee is one of the early favorites to run in 2027, along with Han Dong-hoon, a Yoon ally who directed the ruling party's campaign. Also in the media spotlight is Cho Kuk, a disgraced liberal former justice minister whose newly launched small party won 12 seats. Observers say Cho is a potential liberal challenger to Lee.
The election results dealt a blow to Han. But much of the criticism is against Yoon, while Han, a former justice minister and political novice, built a strong political fanbase during the election campaign. If both Lee and Cho survive their legal troubles and vie for presidency, they could split the liberal vote, helping conservatives. 'Han isn't still free from the defeat,' said Cho Jinman, a professor at Seoul’s Duksung Women’s University.
South Korea Election Parliament Liberals Conservatives President Yoon Political Challenge
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