In a surprising move, South Korea’s Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and senior presidential officials have offered to resign en masse following Wednesday’s parliamentary elections. The resignations come as a blow to conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol’s party, which lost control of parliament to liberal opposition forces.
The main opposition Democratic Party and its satellite party secured a combined 175 seats in the 300-member National Assembly, while Yoon’s ruling People Power Party only obtained 108 seats. The final voter turnout was the highest since 1992, indicating strong public engagement in the election process.
Ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon has already announced his resignation, taking responsibility for the election defeat. Despite the setback, President Yoon, who took office in 2022, will remain in power with unchanged major foreign policies.
Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung praised the election results and called for unity to address economic and public livelihood problems. The incoming parliament is set to begin meeting on May 30 for a four-year term.
Executive power in South Korea is mostly held by the president, but the prime minister serves as the No. 2 official and would take power if the president becomes incapacitated. This latest political development is expected to set back Yoon’s domestic agenda and weaken his grip on the party, facing intensified political opposition in the coming months.
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