In political banners, campaign slogans and everyday conversations, South Koreans have used two words to convey the importance of this week’s election. Congress voting: “Right away Phan Quyet.” This is an opportunity to pass judgment on the first two years of President Yoon Suk Yeol, a leader who has made strides on the international stage but is unpopular and deeply divisive at home.
The results announced on Thursday were disastrous for Mr. Yoon.
Voters pushed him to the brink of becoming a lame duck, giving the opposition one of the largest parliamentary majorities in recent decades. He became the first South Korean president in decades to face an opposition-controlled National Assembly throughout his time in office.
Results – and increasingly polarized The South Korean political climate — which Mr. Yoon has helped strengthen — heralds a deepening stalemate in a country that is critical to America’s efforts to counter China and North Korea. It reduces the likelihood of Mr. Yoon achieving anything that would require bipartisan support. And it increases the likelihood that he will leave office in 2027 with nothing to show for it navigation His country’s foreign policy aims to expand military ties with Washington and Tokyo.
For months, political analysts, local media and even critics within his own party have warned Mr. Yoon about his “disconnection” from ordinary people and “arrogance.” his when dealing with the opposition. a national disaster, Protracted doctors’ strike and related corruption allegations his wifeKim Keon Hee.
“His leadership is like a runaway train,” said Ahn Byong-jin, a political scientist at Kyung Hee University in Seoul.
During his two years in office, Mr. Yoon’s business-friendly domestic agenda remained paralyzed by his toxic relationship with the opposition-controlled National Assembly, South Korea’s unicameral legislature. Quoc. He was more successful abroad, bask noted in Washington and European capitals for his and his country’s foreign policy increasing importance in the war in Ukraine.
For the United States, South Korea under the leadership of Mr. Yoon is an important partner and is willing to build an alliance against China – an effort emphasized by President Biden’s meetings this week with the leaders of Japan and the Philippines.
And while foreign policy is largely in the hands of the president, Mr. Yoon’s weakened domestic position could hinder his diplomatic initiatives, some of which have been fiercely controversial at home. water.
Lee Jae-myung, whose Progressive Democratic Party presided over the election, fiercely criticized Mr. Yoon for expanding military cooperation with Japan, a former Korean colony, and distancing himself from Washington on behalf of the Democratic Party. Avoid China, South Korea’s largest trading partner. Mr. Lee also prefers dialogue with North Korea, unlike Mr. Yoon and Washington’s approach of prioritizing military sanctions and deterrence.
When Mr. Yoon win the presidency in 2022, he inherits The National Assembly was elected two years earlier. He often blames the opposition-controlled Congress for blocking or watering down his domestic agenda, such as labor and health care policies. But for this week’s election defeat and his party’s continued lack of a parliamentary majority for the remainder of his term, Mr. Yoon has little to blame except himself.
However, the election results could have been even worse for him.
The opposition Democratic Party and its coalition partners won nearly 190 seats, short of a 200-seat majority, which would allow lawmakers to override the president’s veto or pursue impeachment. president. Mr. Yoon’s People Power Party and its affiliates won 108 seats, down from the 114 seats they controlled in the outgoing National Assembly.
“This wise decision by the people leaves President Yoon and the opposition no other choice but to start dialogue,” said Sung Deuk Hahm, a political scientist at Kyonggi University. “If they don’t wake up, things could get really bad.”
Mr. Yoon needs help from the opposition in solving the problem Real estate prices run away, The population is aging rapidly and a long-delayed reform of the national pension system. Mr. Lee, who was defeated by Mr. Yoon two years ago and is hoping to run for president again, also needs to build his leadership capacity.
Stunned by the election results, Mr. Yoon showed signs of doing what observers once said he would never do: admit he was at fault.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and many of Mr. Yoon’s top aides submitted their resignations on Thursday to pave the way for the president to reorganize his government. The reshuffle is not expected to involve foreign policy aides, a sign that Mr. Yoon intends to maintain his diplomatic initiatives.
Presidential aides also told reporters that Mr. Yoon would try to build a cooperative relationship with opposition members, whom his party called “criminals” during the election campaign. . Mr. Yoon did not speak publicly but his chief of staff, Lee Kwan-sup, relayed a message from the president.
Mr. Yoon was quoted as saying: “I will humbly accept the will of the people as reflected in the election results and will review the way the government operates and do my best to stabilize the economy. economy and people’s livelihoods”.
