Early reports suggest Democratic Party win in S.Korea general election

[soryang]

Last edited Wed Apr 15, 2020, 05:56 PM - Edit history (1)

The exit polling in South Korea's general election today April 15 suggest the incumbent Democratic Party may win an absolute majority in the 21st National Assembly.

Democrat Lee Nak-yeon is projected to defeat Hwang Kyo-ahn in the bellweather Jongno district of Seoul, the so called home district of presidents. Both Lee Nak-yeon and Hwang Kyo-ahn are former prime ministers. Hwang Kyo-ahn served as acting president during the impeachment of Park Geun-hye. He is the leader of the newly named conservative United Future Party, formerly the Liberty Korea Party. Na Kyung-won has been projected to lose as well according to exit polling. Na was the former floor leader in the National Assembly for the Liberty Korea Party. These results are not official.

Thus far the Ask a Korean twitter feed has the most timely reporting.

Link to tweet

One wrinkle in the potential electoral results is that the recent electoral reform law was expected to strengthen the minor parties, with proportional representation seats, but both the Democratic party and the UFP created faux satellite parties to get around proportional limits on party representation in proportional seats. Much of the success of the Democratic Party is attributed to the success of the incumbent democratic administration in managing the corona virus epidemic. Many western observers have yet to recognize the effect of disclosures of influence peddling, corruption and political interference on the part of the conservative leaders, Hwang and Na, particularly in the administration of justice in South Korea over the years. The revitalization of a free press in South Korea particularly after the removal of conservative President Park Geun-hye from office has had an impact on electoral politics.

[Iliyah]

1. I hope that is a good thing? . . .

[soryang]

2. Getting rid of Hwang and Na is a good thing

they represent the political legacy of the former dictatorships.

Na's family used to own the grace hotel a place where the security police used to torture students, dissidents, and labor leaders.

Hwang wrote text books on the national security laws restricting political activities and what we call First Amendment rights in South Korea. They are both fascists as far as I'm concerned. However, the US and Japan as currently formulated would prefer to have them in office because they are more pliable leaders.

Moon's Democratic Party is committed to maintaining South Korean sovereignty, free from outside meddling.

[soryang]

3. Looks like a historic victory for the dems

Link to tweet