Join Chelsie Alexandre as she discusses the implications of the 2024 Korean election with Prof. Dr. Gi-Wook Shin. They explore the impact on Korea's political, economic, and social policies, as well as its relations with the US, North Korea, China, and Japan.
The Korean general election showcased a significant ideological victory for liberals over conservatives, hinting at potential shifts in Korean politics.
The high voter turnout and closely contested election highlighted escalating political divisions and challenges for Korean politics in the future.
Deep dives
Key Election Outcomes and Liberal Party Victory
The recent Korean general elections produced expected outcomes with the ruling party PPP securing 108 seats compared to the opposition's 202 seats, predominantly won by the liberal side. This election highlighted a significant ideological victory for the liberals, signaling a substantial loss for the conservatives. Notably, the Democratic Party secured 175 seats, while the newly established Rebuilding Korea Party by Mr. Cho garnered 12 seats, hinting at potential shifts in Korean politics.
High Voter Turnout and Political Polarization
The election registered a high voter turnout of around 67%, the highest since 1992, showcasing active political engagement. The closely contested election displayed only slight margins of victory in many districts, with intense competition and minimal space for third parties apart from the liberal and Asian Talk parties. The results highlighted escalating political divisions and polarization, indicating significant challenges for Korean politics in the future.
Impact of Youth Dissatisfaction and Political Leadership Crisis
This election served as a verdict on President Yoon's performance, reflecting high levels of anti-incumbency sentiments, particularly among the youth. The ruling party's loss emphasized challenges in appealing to younger voters and addressing their concerns, potentially leading to a leadership crisis. With President Yoon likely facing obstacles in implementing major policies due to party dynamics, the election outcome delivered a setback to him and his party.
Campaign Strategy, Lack of Policy Debate, and Political Environment
The election campaign was marked by ineffective strategies from the ruling party, with a failure to present a compelling vision or appeal to conservative and swing voters. The absence of major policy debates and a focus on personal attacks and negative campaigning exacerbated political tensions and highlighted a crisis in Korean democracy. The rise of the Joe Cox party and its success in garnering support through a politics of resentment raised concerns about the health of Korean democracy.
April 11, 2024 - Join us for a rapid reaction analysis of the Republic of Korea’s high stakes 2024 legislative election, held in South Korea one day prior on April 10. This election could shift the control of power in the National Assembly, resulting in an emboldened electoral mandate for President Yoon Suk Yeol, or else creating a new challenge for his administration’s agenda. In this conversation with Korea Society policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre, Stanford University’s Professor Dr. Gi-Wook Shin explores the implications of the election for: Korea’s political, economic, and social policy; its relations with its Alliance partner the United States, and regional states, such as North Korea, China, and Japan.