New direction of Korean diplomacy after election

April 22, 2024

SEOUL – The general election in South Korea on April 10 ended with the landslide victory of the opposition Democratic Party and the disastrous defeat of the ruling People Power Party.

The Democratic Party won 175 out of 300 seats in parliament. It is one of the most significant victories by an opposition party in the history of Korean politics. The party won 180 seats four years ago, but the meaning is different because it was the ruling party in 2020. Besides, just a couple of months after the formidable outbreak of COVID-19, there was a strong stream of opinion about helping the government overcome the global disaster.

The People Power Party gained five more seats than 103 four years ago. However, it is undoubtedly a catastrophic loss as it has become a ruling party from an opposition party.

In this election, the opposition parties emphasized a stern judgment on the government led by President Yoon Suk Yeol and the ruling party. They lashed out against the president as ignorant and incompetent, bringing up economic difficulties with high prices.

They also criticized him as ruthless and irresponsible, recalling the tragic incident in Itaewon in October 2022 and the death of a Marine last year.

The obvious backsliding of democracy in Korea was also a big issue with the government. The criticism also includes problems in foreign affairs and security. They have argued that the administration has aggravated the security situation because of the flawed national strategies, and Yoon incurred too many diplomatic humiliations.

The ruling party’s crushing defeat in the election made it inevitable for President Yoon Suk Yeol to make significant policy changes. Foreign and security policies should also be included