South Korean Prime Minister tenders resignation following defeat in parliamentary elections

Seoul, April 11 (IANS) South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and almost all senior presidential secretaries have offered their resignations following the ruling People Power Party’s defeat in parliamentary elections. The resignations were confirmed by the presidential office. President Yoon Suk-yeol accepted the resignations and vowed to focus on reforming state affairs and stabilizing the economy.

The quadrennial polls for 300 members of the National Assembly took place on Wednesday, with voters casting ballots for 254 constituency seats and 46 proportional representation slots. The liberal opposition bloc emerged victorious, winning more than three-fifths of the seats in what was viewed as a mid-term referendum on President Yoon’s governance.

The main liberal opposition Democratic Party secured 161 directly contested constituency seats, while its satellite parties clinched 14 proportional representation slots. Other minor liberal parties also made gains, with the broader liberal bloc securing a total of 189 parliamentary seats.

In contrast, the governing conservative People Power Party and its allies only managed to secure 90 constituency seats and 18 PR seats. The minor center-right New Reform Party also won a seat in the elections. The results reflect a significant shift in the political landscape of South Korea.

The outcome of the parliamentary elections has led to a wave of resignations, with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and senior presidential secretaries offering to step down. President Yoon Suk-yeol has pledged to listen to the will of the people expressed through the elections and focus on implementing reforms to address key issues affecting the country.

The aftermath of the election results is expected to bring about significant changes in the political climate of South Korea, as the liberal opposition consolidates its power in the National Assembly. President Yoon’s administration will now face the challenge of working with the new parliamentary makeup to address pressing issues and deliver on campaign promises.