South Korea's Midterm Election: Test for President Yoon
South Koreans are heading to the polls today to choose a new parliament, a vote that many view as a midterm review of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s time in office.
President Yoon, who still has three years in office, leads the People Power Party (PPP). However, the PPP has found it tough to push through its plans in a parliament where the opposition Democratic Party (DPK) holds sway.
The election has been closely contested, with neither major party gaining a significant advantage during the campaigning period. Yoon faces pressure to tackle various issues like the rising cost of food, the country's aging population, and an ongoing strike by doctors.
Criticism has been leveled at Yoon for seeming disconnected from the public's concerns about inflation. However, the opposition has also faced its own share of criticism.
If the PPP doesn't secure a strong showing, Yoon might finish his term without many accomplishments beyond his foreign policy successes. Notably, he has strengthened ties with Japan and the US to counterbalance China and North Korea.
However, these foreign policy wins might not influence this election much. South Koreans are more concerned about their finances when they vote.
Yoon's popularity has been dropping for some time, partly due to political scandals. These include a leaked recording of him swearing after a meeting with US President Joe Biden in 2022. His wife, Kim Keon Hee, faced controversy over accepting an expensive bag gift, while senior members of his party were accused of corruption and abuse of power.
For voters, the immediate concern is the cost of living. Recently, Yoon drew criticism for calling a bundle of green onions priced at 875 won ($0.65) “reasonable,” even though it was discounted due to subsidies. The usual price for this item is between 3,000 and 4,000 won.
His comment sparked backlash, with farmers protesting and the vegetable even showing up at DPK rallies.
Yet, the DPK, the main opposition, has its own issues with political scandals and internal conflicts. This dissatisfaction with both major parties might create an opportunity for new, smaller parties to enter the scene.
Despite this, many voters are disillusioned with the lack of strong policy solutions to the cost-of-living crisis from any party. Inflation, especially in grocery prices, is a major worry for Korean voters.
At polling stations in Seoul, voters are expressing concerns about the high cost of living. Kim Hyeon-seo, a finance worker, mentioned the struggle to afford an apartment. Meanwhile, 81-year-old pensioner Kim Geun-su shared how food prices are making life difficult on a fixed income.
Some voters also expressed frustration with the aggressive nature of South Korean politics. Many hope for a more cooperative approach among leaders to address the country's challenges.
In this election, voters cast one ballot for their local representative in the National Assembly, which has 254 seats out of 300 in total. They also vote for a political party, which then assigns the remaining 46 proportional representation seats.
Seoul alone has 48 seats in the Assembly, with the DPK winning 41 of these in the 2020 elections.
Early voting saw over 30% of eligible voters participate last week. Polling stations opened at 06:00 (21:00 GMT) on Wednesday and will close at 18:00 local time.
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