South Korea's Surprise Election Result

The result of 2016 General Election in April 13 came as a surprise when the Saenuri Party, the ruling conservative party in South Korea, failed to gain majority with only 122 seats in the Assembly. For the first time in 20 years, a tripartite political system will take place in the Korean Assembly. After the disastrous outcome, Kim Moo Sung, the leader of Saenuri Party, decided to resign, in order “to take responsibility for the resounding defeat” in the election. The Minjoo Party and the People’s party, respectively representing the liberal and moderate political views, won 123 seats and 38 seats in the election.

Behind this unexpected outcome, there are two major shifts in South Korea’s political landscape.

First, the deeply rooted regionalism in South Korean politics appears to have  weakened. Both liberal and conservative politicians ran successful campaigns in opposite parties’ strongholds. One of the most significant victories for the liberal Minjoo Party took place in the city of Daegu, one of the strongest conservative bases in the nation and President Park Geun Hye’s political home ground. In Gwangju where liberals traditionally came strong, the conservative candidates managed to win.

Second, the voter turnout marked 58 percent and set a record high for a general election in 12 years. This increase in voter turnout is credited to a sharp increase in young voters. Voters in the age category of 20s and 30s marked 49.5 percent turnout, which made a double-digit 12.1 percent leap from the last election in 2012.

While the ruling Saenuri Party is busy with finding a new leadership, the Minjoo Party and the People’s party hope to maintain this momentum until the 2017 Presidential Election.