SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean voters have handed liberals extended opposition control of parliament in what looks like a massive political setback to conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Some experts say the results of Wednesday’s parliamentary elections make Yoon “a lame duck” — or even “a dead duck” — for his remaining three years in office. Others disagree, saying Yoon still has many policy levers and could aggressively push his foreign policy agenda.
But it’s certain that the election outcome poses the toughest political challenge to Yoon since the former top prosecutor took office in 2022 for a single five-year term.
Here is a look at what the election results mean to Yoon and South Korean politics.
Even before Yoon’s inauguration, South Korea’s single-chamber National Assembly was controlled by the liberal Democratic Party. Squabbling with Yoon over a range of issues, Democratic Party lawmakers have frequently limited his domestic agenda.
New Zealand Black Caps fans look to Twenty20 World Cup with hope, trepidation
Incredible footage resurfaces of Patrick Mahomes' 'saucy' high
Ludvig Aberg aims to build on his Masters runner
Emily Ratajkowski dazzles in plunging spiral print dress at the 2024 Whitney Gala
Haiti’s international airport reopens after gang violence
Beauty fans go wild for £25 'magic' lightweight moisturiser that's winning 5 star reviews
Petition for the Kansas City Chiefs to dismiss Harrison Butker gathers 30k signatures
Moment British tourists wade into the sea and sprinkle loved
EU seals a deal on using profits from frozen Russian assets to help arm Ukraine
Trump hush money trial: Defense lawyers question Michael Cohen's credibility
Weather forecasters warn Pakistanis to stay indoors ahead of new heat wave
A Palestinian converted to Judaism. An Israeli soldier saw him as a threat and opened fire