The progressive Democratic Party of Korea regained power in the South Korean presidential election, while the conservative People Power Party fell to the opposition

On the 3rd of this month, the South Korean presidential election was held, and Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea was elected. This marked the first time in three years that South Korea has been led by a progressive government.
The ruling party currently holds a majority in the National Assembly, and this is the first time since the Park Geun-hye administration that a government has been formed with a majority in the ruling party.
The Yonhap News Agency pointed out that "The People Power Party, which had been in a difficult position after Park's impeachment and was seeking a comeback with the birth of the Yoon administration, has once again been driven into dire straits."
The presidential election was held following the impeachment of former President Yoon Seok-yeol, who declared "emergency martial law" in December last year. In addition to Lee, the main candidates include conservative
Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party and Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party were running for the position. The biggest issue was how to evaluate the Yoon administration, which declared "emergency martial law." Lee Jae-myung was the one who declared "emergency martial law."
He characterized the People Power Party, which supported former President Yoon who declared that he would not resign, as a "force of insurrection," and emphasized during the election period that "this election is a trial for the forces of insurrection who are trying to destroy the constitutional order."
"I will create a country where military coups will not be repeated," he said. On the 3rd, the vote was counted and Lee Jae Myung was elected with 17,287,513 votes (49.42% of the votes). Kim said,
Regarding the presidential election, Yonhap News Agency reported, "In the South Korean presidential election, voters were skeptical of former President Yoon Seok-yeol's 'Extraordinary' campaign."
"He held them responsible for the chaos that followed after the declaration of 'martial law,'" he said, "Three years ago in the presidential election held in 2022, the progressive Moon Jae-in administration was judged and the conservative Yoon administration was launched, but
"It did not give an exemption to emergency martial law," he said. Normally, a new president takes office after a transition period of about two months, but this time, since there is no presidential election due to the expiration of a term, Lee Jae-in was not inaugurated.
Myung began his term on the 4th after the election results were confirmed by the National Election Commission. Lee attended the inauguration ceremony and took the oath of office on the same day. In a message to the nation afterwards, he said,
"I will be the president who puts an end to the politics of division. I will overcome this crisis with national unity as the engine," he said. With Lee's inauguration as president, the progressive Democratic Party of Korea has won the majority for the first time in three years.
The party holds 171 seats in the National Assembly (300 seats), a majority, and was the majority opposition party under the previous Yoon administration. Public broadcaster KBS said, "The new administration under President Lee Jae-myung has an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly.
"The environment will be in place to quickly tackle major bills and personnel matters, and it is expected that the administration of state affairs will gain momentum in the early stages," he said.
Yonhap News also reported, "With Lee's victory, the Democratic Party of Korea, which holds a majority in the National Assembly (300 seats), has also gained executive power. With 171 seats, the Democratic Party of Korea is a progressive party.
"By teaming up with the opposition parties, Lee could secure around 190 seats and resolve the legislative agenda that has been stalled due to Yoon's veto."
On the other hand, the People Power Party has been affected by the declaration of emergency martial law by former President Yoon.
As a result, the party lost support from moderates and some conservatives, and Kim Moon-soo, who ran for president from the party, had a hard time in the election. Kim was defeated by Lee Jae-in, who had consistently topped the polls.
With Myung in mind, Kim called for votes for himself, saying, "This is the last chance to prevent the dictatorship of a monster president and to protect liberal democracy, the rule of law, the market economy, and the Korea-U.S. alliance." But he lost.
At the disbanding ceremony of the election campaign committee, he bowed his head and said, "I believe that I have truly committed a historic crime. I would like to apologize to the people and my fellow party members."
Within the People Power Party, which has fallen into the opposition, the faction that failed to govern under the previous Yoon administration is resigning.
Hong Jun-pyo, the former mayor of the southeastern city of Daegu, who retired from politics in April this year, posted on social media on the 4th, "They (People Power)
"The party has turned into a self-interested interest group, and the people have turned their backs on it," he said, criticizing the party he was a member of. "With local elections coming up, I think the party may disappear."
Meanwhile, President Lee held a luncheon with leaders of the ruling and opposition parties on the 4th and called for the concentration of political power. Lee said, "Politics has not fulfilled its original role of resolving the people's difficulties and uniting the people.
"We must make concessions where possible, compromise where necessary, and I sincerely hope that we can come up with policies that everyone can agree on, so that the people can live better lives.
"I hope that instead of politics of war and confrontation, we will have a politics of dialogue, mutual recognition and real competition."