SOUTH KOREA
Seat totals from the 10 April legislative election show the main opposition liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and its allies have maintained their majority in the National Assembly, but even with outside support will fall short of the 200-seat 'supermajority' that would have given it sweeping powers in overriding presidential vetos and beginning impeachment proceedings.
- The DPK-DAK has won 176 out of the 300 seats, down from 180 in the 2020 election. The conservative People Power Party (PPP), supportive of President Yoon Suk-yeol, won 108 seats, up from 103 in 2020. While the PPP numbers may appear to have improved from the last election, a small rump of minor party/independent lawmakers that usually aligned with the PPP has lost out.
- Instead 12 seats have been won by the liberal Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP) of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk. An agreement between the DPK and RKP would push the joint total above the 180-seat margin. This number is important as it would allow the opposition to overcome parliamentary filibusters from the PPP, speeding up the legislative process in their favour.
- Since the results came through, PM Han Duck-soo and all senior advisers to Yoon have offered their resignations, although it is yet to be confirmed whether the president has accepted the offer.
- The DPK falling short of a supermajority is the only bright spot for Yoon and the PPP. The president now faces a hostile legislature for the remainder of his presidential term running to 2027, limiting the prospect of any notable legislative 'wins' in areas such as tax cuts, reducing business regulation and expanding family support.
Chart 1. South Korea Legislative Election Results, Seats
Source: KBS, NEC. DPK-DAK total includes Progressive Party and New Progressive Alliance seats.
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