2016 South Korean legislative election

none October 2020 South Korea legislative 2012 South Korean legislative election 2012 13 April 2016 2020 South Korean legislative election 2020 List of members of the National Assembly (South Korea), 2012–2016 List of members of the National Assembly (South Korea), 2016–2020 All 300 seats in the National Assembly 151 58.15% (3.91pp; Const. votes)58.03% (3.79pp; PR votes) Constituency vote % and swing Regional vote % and swing Kim Jong-in in Aeranwon (cropped).jpg Kim Chong-in Democratic Party (South Korea, 2015) 127 seatsas Democratic United Party 123 4 8,881,369 37.00% (0.85pp) 6,069,744 25.55% (11.09pp) Kimmoosung.jpg Kim Moo-sung Saenuri Party 157 seatsSaenuri and Liberty Forward Party 122 35 9,200,690 38.33% (7.15pp) 7,960,272 33.50% (12.54pp) 70px70px Ahn Cheol-sooChun Jung-bae People Party (South Korea, 2016) Did not exist 38 New 3,565,451 14.85% (New) 6,355,572 26.75% (New) Sim Sang-jung taking a commemorative photo with the Speaker of the National Assembly.jpg Sim Sang-jung Justice Party (South Korea) Did not exist 6 New 395,357 1.65% (New) 1,719,891 7.24% (New) 2016 South Korean legislative election.svg 300px Results of the election. Speaker Chung Eui-hwa Saenuri Party Chung Sye-kyun Democratic Party (South Korea, 2015) Legislative elections were held in South Korea on 13 April 2016. All 300 members of the National Assembly were elected, 253 from first-past-the-post constituencies and 47 from proportional party lists. The election was an upset victory for the liberal Democratic Party, which defied opinion polling by winning a plurality of seats in the election and defeating the ruling conservative Saenuri Party by one seat. In votes for party lists, however, Democratic Party came third, behind the Saenuri Party in first place and the new People Party in second. The election marked an upheaval in the South Korean party system, installing the second National Assembly without a working majority since 2000 and a three-party system for the first time since 1996.https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160413000614 Minority People's Party steals show: Ahn's Party holds balance of power as three party system dawns The Korea Herald 13 April 2016 13 April 2016 The People Party attained a kingmaker position in the new Assembly, while the leadership of the Saenuri Party including chairman Kim Moo-sung resigned en masse following their defeat, relinquishing control of the party to an emergency response commission. The 2016 legislative election was the first to be held in South Korea following the formation of the People Party and the enforcement of controversial Constitutional Court rulings dissolving the left-wing Unified Progressive Party and mandating the redistricting of the Assembly's constituencies. Background In the 2012 legislative election, the ruling conservative Saenuri Party won a slim majority of 152 seats out of 300.https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160110000398 Can Saenuri Party take 180 seats? The Korea Herald 10 January 2016 9 April 2016 The party also retained control of the presidency, as Saenuri candidate Park Geun-hye won the presidential election that year. By the time of the 2016 legislative election, the Saenuri delegation had fallen to 146 out of 292 filled Assembly seats, exactly 50%.http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2016/03/30/0200000000AEN20160330011800315.html Parliamentary candidates launch official campaigning Yonhap News 31 March 2016 9 April 2016 The 2016 election was seen as an important stepping stone to the 2017 presidential election, which was held on 9 May 2017.http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/s-korea-ruling-party-set-to-regain-majority South Korea's ruling party set to regain majority The Straits Times 9 April 2016 9 April 2016 Redistricting In 2014, the Constitutional Court of Korea mandated that because the population disparities between the Assembly constituencies were resulting in unequal representation, the constituencies must be redistricted for the 2016 elections. The Court held that the largest and smallest constituencies by population must not differ from each other by more than 2:1, and that the number of constituents in any given constituency must not differ from the average number of constituents by more than one third.http://www.ccourt.go.kr/home/iframe/storybookinfo_view05.jsp?eventNo=2012%C7%E5%B8%B6192&mainseq=146&seq=5&sch_date=&sch_time=&eventnum=&board_id=&comm_id=&media_id=a&accident1=2012&accident2=%C7%E5%B8%B6&accident3=192&accident_name=&law_name=&provision=&regname=&flag=1&pg=1 https://web.archive.org/web/20200507161958/http://www.ccourt.go.kr/home/iframe/storybookinfo_view05.jsp?eventNo=2012%EF%BF%BD%E5%B8%B6192&mainseq=146&seq=5&sch_date=&sch_time=&eventnum=&board_id=&comm_id=&media_id=a&accident1=2012&accident2=%EF%BF%BD%E5%B8%B6&accident3=192&accident_name=&law_name=&provision=&regname=&flag=1&pg=1 dead 7 May 2020 ko:공직선거법제25조 제2항 별표1위헌확인 ko Constitutional Court of Korea 30 October 2014 16 May 2015 Civil Election Law Article 25 Section 2 Asterisk 1 Decided Unconstitutional A deadline of 31 December 2015 was set for the redistricting to take place. Nonetheless, by the end of 2015 the National Assembly had not approved a new electoral map. Viewing the situation as an emergency, the National Election Commission was forced to allow registered candidates to campaign without a set map of constituencies.http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3013388&ref=mobile NEC allows campaigning without new electoral map Korea JoongAng Daily 31 December 2015 9 April 2016 The crisis was ultimately resolved in February 2016 with an agreement between the two major parties that allowed a new electoral map to be passed by the National Assembly. The new set of provisions raised the number of districts from 246 to 253, while decreasing the number of list-selected seats from 54 to 47.Kim Hyo-jin https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/02/116_198780.html Parties agree on electoral map The Korea Times 23 February 2016 9 April 2016 Region Number of seats changed Region Number of seats changed Region Number of seats changed Seoul 48 → 49 +1 Ulsan 6 → 6 0 South Jeolla 11 → 10 −1 Busan 18 → 18 0 Gyeonggi 52 → 60 +8 North Gyeongsang 15 → 13 −2 Daegu 12 → 12 0 Gangwon 9 → 8 −1 South Gyeongsang 16 → 16 0 Incheon 12 → 13 +1 North Chungcheong 8 → 8 0 Jeju 3 → 3 0 Gwangju 8 → 8 0 South Chungcheong 10 → 11 +1 Sejong 1 → 1 0 Daejeon 6 → 7 +1 North Jeolla 11 → 10 −1 Proportional representation 54 → 47 −7 Reordering of the opposition In the aftermath of the 2013 South Korean sabotage plot, another controversial Constitutional Court ruling enforced the dissolution of the Unified Progressive Party due to the party's alleged ideological affinity to North Korea. The dissolution of the UPP left the Justice Party as the sole left-wing democratic socialist party in the National Assembly. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the most influential democratic trade union organisation in Korea that had originally supported the UPP, now endorsed the Justice Party. The Justice Party's candidates and Assembly members were considered to have similar political views as the left-wing members of the main opposition Democratic Party, and many votes from the Justice Party shifted to the Democratic Party.https://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2015/02/18/2015021800214.html [19대 국회 이념분석] 與野 이념 간극, 김무성·문재인(여야 당 대표) 멀고 유승민·우윤근(여야 원내 대표) 가까워 ko The Chosun Ilbo 18 February 2015 16 May 2015 [19th Assembly Ideology Breakdown] Majority-Minority Ideological divide, Kim Moo-sung, Moon Jae-in (Party leaders) far Yoo Seong-min, Woo Yoon-geun (Assembly leaders) close The opposition was further fragmented when Ahn Cheol-soo defected from the main opposition Democratic Party and established a new People Party in early 2016. Due to South Korea's largely first-past-the-post electoral system, the division between the liberal Democratic and People parties had led to projections of a sweeping victory for the ruling Saenuri Party in the elections.https://thediplomat.com/2016/04/history-repeats-in-south-koreas-crumbling-opposition-party/ History Repeats in South Korea's Crumbling Opposition: At the center of controversy is fallen rebel Ahn Cheol-soo. Ramirez Elaine The Diplomat 5 April 2016 9 April 2016 The two opposition parties considered an electoral alliance but by 5 April the idea was abandoned, with interim Democratic leader Kim Chong-in stating that his party "will hold the elections whether the People's Party is there or not".http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=3017151 Minjoo, People's Party abandon alliance idea Korea JoongAng Daily 6 April 2016 11 April 2016 Legislative gridlock The outgoing 19th National Assembly was marked by political gridlock. In February 2016, Democratic lawmakers undertook the world's longest filibuster to stall an anti-terrorism bill, and the Assembly passed less than a third of the bills introduced in its term. The Saenuri Party aimed to win a supermajority of 180 seats in the 2016 election so that it could ease the gridlock by repealing the existing requirement for three-fifths of the Assembly to agree to the introduction of each bill.https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21696545-south-koreans-are-fed-up-politicians-squabbling-no-walk-park No walk in the Park: South Koreans are fed up with politicians squabbling The Economist 9 April 2016 10 April 2016 Electoral system Legislative elections in South Korea 300 members of the National Assembly were elected in the 2016 elections, of whom 253 (84%) were elected from single-member constituencies on a first-past-the-post basis, and 47 (16%) from closed party lists through proportional representation by the Hare quota largest remainder method, in accordance with South Korea's Public Official Election Act.Article 189, subsection (3), Public Official Election Act, http://www.nec.go.kr/engvote_2013/05_resourcecenter/02_01.jsp Legislation & Judicial Decision Republic of Korea National Election Commission 9 April 2016 23 July 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150723233143/http://www.nec.go.kr/engvote_2013/05_resourcecenter/02_01.jsp dead In order to win seats through proportional representation, parties needed to pass an election threshold of either 5 single-member districts or 3% of the total list vote.http://www.nec.go.kr/engvote_2013/02_elections/01_04.jsp Election Districts and Representation System Republic of Korea National Election Commission 12 April 2016 21 April 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160421212640/http://www.nec.go.kr/engvote_2013/02_elections/01_04.jsp dead Restrictions on candidates Candidates for the National Assembly were required to pay a fee of 15000000 KRW yes (US$13,000 as of April 2016), and under the National Security Act the Constitutional Court may block the registration of "left-wing", "pro–North Korean" parties, though this provision had not affected the previous election in 2012.https://www.sgi-network.org/2015/South_Korea/Quality_of_Democracy South Korea Sustainable Governance Indicators 9 April 2016 Date and process The 2016 election for the National Assembly was held on 13 April, in accordance with Article 34 of the Public Official Election Act, which specifies that Election Day for legislative elections is held on "the first Wednesday from the 50th day before the expiration of the [National Assembly members'] term of office".Article 34, Public Official Election Act, http://www.nec.go.kr/engvote_2013/05_resourcecenter/02_01.jsp Legislation & Judicial Decision Republic of Korea National Election Commission 9 April 2016 23 July 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150723233143/http://www.nec.go.kr/engvote_2013/05_resourcecenter/02_01.jsp dead Eligible voters were required to be registered and at least 19 years old on the day of the election, and needed to show an approved form of identification at the polling place. Polls on Election Day were open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Korea Standard Time (21:00–09:00 UTC, 12–13 April).http://www.nec.go.kr/engvote_2013/04_news/04_01_voting.jsp National Assembly elections: April 13, 2016 Republic of Korea National Election Commission 12 April 2016 21 April 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160421222235/http://www.nec.go.kr/engvote_2013/04_news/04_01_voting.jsp dead Since 2009, voters have been able to vote overseas, and the election began with registered overseas voters casting ballots between 30 March and 4 April.https://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2016/03/28/2016032801386.html Korean Expats to Cast Early Votes in General Elections The Chosun Ilbo 28 March 2016 9 April 2016 For the first time in a national election, the National Election Commission also allowed early votes to be cast at polling stations in Korea without notice.Lee Rachel https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/04/116_202228.html Early voting begins for general election The Korea Times 8 April 2016 9 April 2016 This early voting period lasted from 8 to 9 April,https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160327000405 Korea readies for election with advanced balloting system The Korea Herald 27 March 2016 9 April 2016 in which time the NEC reported a high turnout of 12.2%.http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2016/04/09/0200000000AEN20160409000552315.html S. Korea records highest voter turnout of early voting Yonhap News 9 April 2016 9 April 2016 Political parties List of political parties in South Korea Parties Leader Ideology Seats Status Last election Before election Saenuri Party Kim Moo-sung Conservatism 152 300 Liberty Korea Party 145 300 Liberty Korea Party rowspan="2" Government 5 300 Liberty Forward PartyLiberty Forward Party Democratic Party Kim Chong-in Liberalism 127 300 Democratic Party (South Korea, 2011)Democratic United Party 103 300 Democratic Party (South Korea, 2015) Opposition People Party Ahn Cheol-sooChun Jung-bae Reformism Did not exist 20 300 People Party (South Korea, 2016) Opposition Justice Party Sim Sang-jung Progressivism Did not exist 5 300 Justice Party (South Korea) Opposition Minjoo Party Gang Sin-seong Liberalism Did not exist 1 300 Minjoo Party (2014) Opposition Unified Progressive Party Lee Jung-hee Progressivism 13 300 Unified Progressive Party Dissolved Opposition Four major parties contested the 2016 election:http://www.mediatoday.co.kr/?mod=news&act=articleView&idxno=129314 ko:새누리당과 거리, 국민의당-더민주-정의당 순 Media Today Distant from Saenuri Party, People's Party–Minjoo Party–Justice Party in order 12 April 2016 12 April 2016 ko The Saenuri Party, led by Kim Moo-sung, the conservative ruling partyhttps://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160412000831 Feud-Plagued parties go to polls The Korea Herald 12 April 2016 12 April 2016 The Democratic Party, led on an interim basis by Kim Chong-in, the main liberal opposition partyhttps://thediplomat.com/2016/03/can-a-right-wing-defector-save-koreas-liberal-opposition/ Can a Right Wing Defector Save Korea's Liberal Opposition? The Diplomat 22 March 2016 12 April 2016 The People Party, led jointly by Ahn Cheol-soo and Chun Jung-bae, a centrist party formed in early 2016 from a split from the Democratic Partyhttps://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160307000793 Ahn's party feuds over opposition unity The Korea Herald 7 March 2016 12 April 2016 The Justice Party, led by standing chairwoman Sim Sang-jung, a left-wing progressive partyhttps://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20150721000879 Future of progressives: New Justice Party leader faces many challenges The Korea Herald 21 July 2015 12 April 2016 Two other parties had one member in the outgoing National Assembly: the religious conservative Christian Liberal Party,https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160411001013 Religion-affiliated parties want to 'protect' country from Islam, homosexuality The Korea Herald 11 April 2016 12 April 2016 and another center-left party known as the Minjoo Party.http://news.donga.com/3/all/20160317/77062178/2 ko:신기남 원외 민주당 입당…18일 입당 기자회견 개최 ko The Dong-A Ilbo 17 March 2016 27 March 2016 14 April 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160414015924/http://news.donga.com/3/all/20160317/77062178/2 deadUnless otherwise specified, "Minjoo" or "Minjoo Party" refers to the main opposition Democratic Party (South Korea, 2015), not the minor party. Candidate nominations The Saenuri Party's candidate nomination process proved contentious. Several members of the Saenuri nominations committee accused party chairman Kim Moo-sung of becoming unduly involved in the process, and the party deselected a number of candidates who were seen as being opposed to the party leadership and President Park Geun-hye.https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/03/116_200677.html Saenuri nominations stalled The Korea Times 18 March 2016 12 March 2016 Many of the deselected candidates defected from the party and announced that they would run as independents. On 4 April, a spokesman for the party said that "during the candidate selection process, we upset our people and [the number of] our supporters who may not vote is worse [than we expected]."https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-north-korea-could-help-conservatives-in-south-korea-election/3269684.html Trump, North Korea Could Help Conservatives in South Korean Election Voice of America 5 April 2016 12 April 2016 The party published a theme song apologizing for the nominations controversy. It also is thought by many that it was the main reason that caused the Saenuri Party to lose. Campaign Campaigning for the election officially began on 30 March, lasting until 12 April. Under South Korean law, candidates were only permitted to campaign in a limited fashion before the beginning of the designated period, including sending a maximum of five text messages publicizing themselves to each voter.https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160324000913 Parties enter campaign mode The Korea Herald 24 March 2016 9 April 2016 National security issues National security issues were a topic of contention in the campaign between the Saenuri and Democratic parties, though the People Party focused on other policy areas. The Saenuri Party argued for a hard-line approach to North Korea, and Saenuri chairman Kim Moo-sung accused the main opposition Democratic Party of pro–North Korean activity due to its support for the reopening of the Kaesong Industrial Complex,https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/04/180_202361.html Policy competition disappears in election campaign The Korea Times 12 April 2016 12 April 2016 an industrial park operated collaboratively by North and South Korea that had been closed down in February 2016.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/10/seoul-shuts-down-joint-north-south-korea-industrial-complex-kaesong McCurry Justin Seoul shuts down joint North-South Korea industrial complex The Guardian 10 February 2016 12 April 2016 The Democratic Party sought to portray the reopening of the complex as an economic rather than a political issue.https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/738992.html [Analysis] Parties' unification, security and foreign affairs platforms for general elections The Hankyoreh 10 April 2016 12 April 2016 The South Korean government announced a series of defections from the North in early April, with critics viewing the announcements as an electoral strategy on behalf of the ruling party.https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/04/116_202368.html N. Korean intelligence colonel fled to the South The Korea Times 11 April 2016 12 April 2016 A local media report quoted an unnamed government official as saying that the Blue House had overruled the Ministry of Unification's objections to publicizing the defections.https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/04/485_202314.html Cheong Wa Dae accused of votes bid over N. Korean defectors The Korea Times 11 April 2016 12 April 2016 The Ministry of Unification denied any connection between the announcements and the election campaign.https://www.nknews.org/2016/04/seoul-denies-political-aspect-of-revealing-n-koreans-defection/ Seoul denies political timing in revealing N.Koreans' defections NK News 11 April 2016 12 April 2016 Candidates from both the opposition and the ruling party also pledged to push for the relocation of U.S. military bases from their constituencies.https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/04/116_202292.html Election pledges to move military bases trigger concerns The Korea Times 10 April 2016 12 April 2016 Economic issues The Korean economy was a dominant area of debate,https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-36031147 South Korea elections: Saenuri party looks to strengthen position BBC News 13 April 2016 13 April 2016 as the governing Saenuri Party promoted business-friendly economic reforms while opposition parties attacked the government for presiding over a historically high youth unemployment rate and declining economic growth.https://www.voanews.com/a/south-korean-election-could-reinforce-status-quo/3283563.html South Korean Election Could Reinforce Status Quo Voice of America 13 April 2016 13 April 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160414131702/http://www.voanews.com/content/south-korean-election-could-reinforce-status-quo/3283563.html 14 April 2016 live The Saenuri Party sought to gain support for labor reforms initiated by President Park, which aimed to cut unemployment by increasing contract flexibility. Trade unions attacked the plans, arguing that the new laws would strip away necessary protections from workers.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-10/korean-election-brings-park-s-labor-law-overhaul-to-a-crossroad Korean Election Brings Park's Labor-Law Overhaul to a Crossroad Bloomberg 10 April 2016 12 April 2016 The Democratic Party accused the ruling party of economic mismanagement,https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160411000882 Parties make last-ditch pleas for votes The Korea Herald 11 April 2016 12 April 2016 and used the campaign to push for "economic democratization" and a shift from larger conglomerates to small business;http://asia.nikkei.com/Viewpoints/Viewpoints/Peter-S.-Kim-Will-South-Korea-choose-long-term-economic-reform-or-band-aid-solutions?page=2 Will South Korea choose long-term economic reform or band-aid solutions? Kim Peter S. Nikkei Asian Review 7 April 2016 12 April 2016 22 April 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160422011427/http://asia.nikkei.com/Viewpoints/Viewpoints/Peter-S.-Kim-Will-South-Korea-choose-long-term-economic-reform-or-band-aid-solutions?page=2 dead the party also promised to raise pensions and the minimum wage, to sponsor public housing development, and to expand mandatory youth employment quotas.https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160411000885 Parties lack pragmatic plans for welfare The Korea Herald 11 April 2016 13 April 2016 Critics argued that Democratic plans would have a distortionary effect on the labor market. Sim Sang-jung, chairwoman of the left-wing Justice Party, argued that the Saenuri, Democratic, and People parties had all failed to articulate distinctive economic policies.https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160403000385 Parties blame each other for weak economy The Korea Herald 3 April 2016 12 April 2016 Social issues Speaking in Seoul during the campaign, Saenuri chairman Kim Moo-sung described homosexuality as "an outrage against humanity", urging voters to reject candidates who supported LGBTQ rights.http://www.huffingtonpost.kr/2016/04/09/story_n_9648708.html ko:김무성, "동성애 찬성 후보는 막아야 한다" Kim Moo-sung: "Candidates supporting homosexuality must be stopped" The Huffington Post Korea 9 April 2016 12 April 2016 ko 14 April 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160414031209/http://www.huffingtonpost.kr/2016/04/09/story_n_9648708.html dead He described Democratic assemblywoman Nam In-soon as a pro-gay advocate for supporting the revision of a military criminal law in 2013 to include men as well as women as potential victims of sexual assault. The Christian Liberal Party also rallied vociferously against LGBTQ rights and stoked Islamophobia, calling on voters to "protect our families from homosexuality and Islam". Opinion polls thumb|450px|right|Graph of selected opinion polls for the 2016 legislative election, beginning at the end of 2015 with the first polls accounting for the new People Party. The moving average is calculated from the last three polls. 30em #C00000 solid 5px Saenuri #2E75B6 solid 5px Democratic #385723 solid 5px People #FFC000 solid 5px Justice (#D2D1D3 Poll embargo period) Opinion polls from prior to the election had suggested the Saenuri Party would win the election outright, and were confounded by Saenuri underperformance in constituencies and the comparative success of the Democratic and People parties.https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160414000872 Pre-election surveys' credibility questioned The Korea Herald 14 April 2016 18 April 2016https://www.wsj.com/articles/south-korea-ruling-party-expected-to-fall-short-of-parliament-majority-exit-polls-show-1460545395 Election Delivers Setback to South Korean Leader The Wall Street Journal 13 April 2016 13 April 2016 The KBS exit poll on 13 April showed the Saenuri Party winning a plurality with between 121 and 143 seats, and the Democratic Party taking 101–123; other exit polls projected similar results.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-36033773 South Korea elections: President Park's party 'loses majority' BBC News 13 April 2016 13 April 2016 South Korean law had prohibited the publication of opinion polls in the week before the elections, beginning on 7 April.https://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2016/04/06/2016040602325.html ko:7일부터 총선 여론조사 결과 공표 금지 Opinion poll result publication banned from the 7th The Chosun Ilbo 6 April 2016 10 April 2016 ko Date Polling firm Saenuri DemocraticKnown as the New Politics Alliance for Democracy until 28 December 2015. People Justice Oth. Lead13 Apr 2016 Election (PR Proportional representation) 33.5 25.5 26.7 7.2 6.9 8.05–7 Apr 2016https://archive.today/20160409135129/http://news.naver.com/main/election/news/read.nhn?mode=LSD&oid=469&aid=0000136988&cid=1040322&iid=24689123 Hankook Research 28.4 21.7 16.9 4.4 5.1 6.74–6 Apr 2016Gallup Korea 39 21 14 5 – 184–6 Apr 2016Realmeter 34.4 27.3 16.8 8.3 4.4 7.128 Mar – 1 Apr 2016Realmeter 37.1 26.2 14.8 8.5 3.8 10.929–31 Mar 2016Gallup Korea 37 21 12 5 – 1629–31 Mar 2016https://archive.today/20160403053601/http://news.naver.com/main/election/news/read.nhn?mode=LSD&oid=469&aid=0000135782&cid=1039694&iid=29885584 Hankook Research 30.9 22.7 11.8 5.7 3.3 8.227–29 Mar 2016R&Search 35.8 22.4 11.5 8.0 – 13.421–25 Mar 2016Realmeter 38.3 24.9 14.0 8.5 4.0 13.422–24 Mar 2016Gallup Korea 39 21 8 5 – 1821–22 Mar 2016R&Search 39.0 21.5 11.2 6.9 – 17.514–18 Mar 2016Realmeter 41.5 28.3 12.3 6.9 3.8 13.215–17 Mar 2016Gallup Korea 41 20 8 7 – 2113–15 Mar 2016R&Search 39.0 22.7 11.7 6.8 – 16.37–11 Mar 2016Realmeter 44.1 27.8 11.1 5.7 2.2 16.38–10 Mar 2016Gallup Korea 39 23 8 4 – 166–8 Mar 2016R&Search 40.1 26.0 10.6 4.1 – 14.129 Feb, 2–4 Mar 2016Realmeter 43.7 28.0 11.5 4.5 3.6 15.72–3 Mar 2016Gallup Korea 38 23 9 4 – 1528–29 Feb 2016R&Search 37.5 24.5 8.9 5.3 – 13.022–26 Feb 2016Realmeter 43.5 26.7 12.1 4.7 3.1 16.823–25 Feb 2016Gallup Korea 42 19 8 3 – 2321–22 Feb 2016https://archive.today/20160318095825/http://news.naver.com/main/election/news/read.nhn?mode=LSD&oid=469&aid=0000129353&cid=1036990&iid=1390198 Hankook Research 38.3 15.9 7.1 2.4 3.2 22.415–19 Feb 2016Realmeter 41.7 26.7 11.7 3.5 3.3 15.016–18 Feb 2016Gallup Korea 42 20 10 2 – 2210–12 Feb 2016Realmeter 39.7 25.9 12.9 5.7 3.4 13.81–5 Feb 2016Realmeter 40.2 27.0 15.0 4.4 3.5 13.22–4 Feb 2016Gallup Korea 39 20 12 3 – 1925–29 Jan 2016Realmeter 40.6 26.9 13.1 3.4 3.8 13.726–28 Jan 2016Gallup Korea 39 20 12 3 – 1918–22 Jan 2016Realmeter 39.2 25.0 17.1 4.6 3.9 14.219–21 Jan 2016Gallup Korea 38 19 13 3 – 1911–15 Jan 2016Realmeter 36.1 22.5 20.7 3.7 4.8 13.64–8 Jan 2016Realmeter 36.1 20.3 18.7 3.8 5.8 15.828–31 Dec 2015Realmeter 35.2 23.6 17.3Speculative support for "Ahn Cheol-soo's new party". 5.8 5.0 11.621–24 Dec 2015Realmeter 37.2 22.4 19.0 6.1 3.0 14.8 11 Apr 2012 Last election (PR Proportional representation) 42.8 36.5Democratic United Party result. – 10.3Unified Progressive Party result. 12.9 6.3 General notes Gallup Korea provides poll results only to the nearest whole number. Results List of members of the National Assembly (South Korea), 2016–2020 300px PR vote share of the Democratic Party 300px PR vote share of the Saenuri Party 300px PR vote share of the People Party 300px PR vote share of the Justice Partythumb|Sealed ballot box used for this election Prior to the election, it was widely expected that the Saenuri Party would emerge victorious due to divisions in the opposition and an intensified national security climate.https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/south-koreans-polls-parliamentary-election-38348849 South Korean President's Party Suffers Election Setback ABC News 14 April 2016 14 April 2016 Speculation had focused on whether the party would be able to attain a three-fifths majority.https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160110000398 Can Saenuri Party take 180 seats? The Korea Herald 12 January 2016 14 April 2016 In contrast to expectations, however, the Saenuri Party was delivered a decisive defeat, losing not only its majority but also its status as largest party in the Assembly.http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3017526 Saenuri routed, Democratic becomes the first, Ahn gains clout 14 April 2016 14 April 2016 The Democratic Party took a one-seat plurality, and the opposition outnumbered the governing party for the first time in 16 years, while the centrist People Party also emerged as a new force in South Korean politics, holding the balance of power in the elected Assembly. The result was seen as posing significant problems for then-President Park, who was rendered unable to press forward with her legislative agenda without opposition support.http://www.japantoday.com/category/world/view/economic-woes-threats-from-north-overshadow-s-korean-legislative-elections Economic woes, threats from North overshadow S Korean legislative elections Japan Today 14 April 2016 14 April 2016 News sources labelled Park a "lame duck" president,http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/conservative-rout-leaves-south-koreas-park-geunhye-a-lame-duck/news-story/16ca1208ddd42854cf92dae327574176?nk=c07dd96332972d39c73e50067a02b460-1460645891 https://web.archive.org/web/20211005213253/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/conservative-rout-leaves-south-koreas-park-geunhye-a-lame-duck/news-story/16ca1208ddd42854cf92dae327574176?nk=c07dd96332972d39c73e50067a02b460-1460645891 live 5 October 2021 Conservative rout leaves South Korea's Park Geun-hye a lame duck The Australian 14 April 2016 14 April 2016 with The Chosun Ilbo saying that her "lame duck period has started earlier than any other administration in the past".https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-election-idUSKCN0XA2LC Vote defeat for South Korea's Park raises 'lame duck' prospect Reuters 14 April 2016 14 April 2016 Eleven independents were elected, of whom seven were former Saenuri members who had been deselected by the party in the nominations process prior to the election: Yoo Seong-min, Joo Ho-young, Ahn Sang-soo, Yoon Sang-hyun, Kang Ghil-boo, Chang Je-won, and Lee Chul-gyu.http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3017605 Saenuri begs victorious independents to return Korea JoongAng Daily 16 April 2016 16 April 2016 Meanwhile, a number of high-profile Saenuri figures were defeated in the constituency elections, including Oh Se-hoon, former Mayor of Seoul, who had been positioning himself for the 2017 presidential race; senior lawmaker and former presidential candidate Lee Jae-oh; and Deputy Prime Minister and former party chairman Hwang Woo-yea.https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160414000429 Parliamentary election result to realign rival parties The Korea Herald 14 April 2016 14 April 2016 #f8f9fa 6 Justice Party (South Korea) 127 Democratic Party (South Korea, 2015) 38 People Party (South Korea, 2016) 122 Saenuri Party 11 Independent Proportional Constituency Saenuri Party 7960272 17 9200690 105 122 –35 People Party 6355572 13 3565451 25 38 New Democratic Party 6069744 13 8881369 110 123 –4 Justice Party 1719891 4 395357 2 6 New Christian Liberal Party 626853 0 1376 0 0 New Minjoo Party 209872 0 17034 0 0 New Green Party Korea 182301 0 31491 0 0 0 People's United Party 145624 0 154402 0 0 New Christian Democratic Party 129978 0 0 New Hannara Party 86464 0 2232 0 0 0 Labor Party 91705 0 46949 0 0 New Green Buddhist Federation 31141 0 0 New Korea Party 27103 0 253 0 0 New Let's go! Peace and Human Rights Party 25227 0 0 New Welfare National Party 20267 0 1295 0 0 New United Korean Party 16427 0 0 New Korean National Party 16407 0 1074 0 0 New Republican Party 12295 0 3268 0 0 New Employment Welfare Pension Advancement Coalition 12143 0 2149 0 0 New Chinbak Yeondae 11981 0 0 New Pro-Ban Unification Party 9710 0 9394 0 0 New Truth Party 3251 0 0 New Patriotic Party 846 0 0 New Pro-Peace Peace Unification Party 519 0 0 New National Anti-Corruption Party 492 0 0 New Republic of Korea Party 264 0 0 New Independents 1683264 11 11 +8 669769 358336 0 42100398 41893936 NEC By city/province The table below lists constituency totals and list vote percentages in each region. Since the election was run under a parallel voting system, electors could choose to vote for one party in their constituencies while voting for another party's national list. Exit polls indicated that 12.9% of those who had voted for the Saenuri Party in their constituencies and 20.8% of those for the Democratic Party supported the People Party list.https://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_editorial/739893.html People's Party opens the way to a real three party system The Hankyoreh 15 April 2016 15 April 2016 + Constituency results by city/provincehttp://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/k/korea/korea20161.txt Republic of Korea legislative election of 13 April 2016 Psephos en 16 June 2019 Region Saenuri DPK PP JP Ind. Totalseats Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seoul 12 36.8 35 43.0 2 16.0 0 0.7 0 2.7 49 Busan 12 47.8 5 38.4 0 5.0 0 1.5 1 7.2 18 Daegu 8 47.9 1 18.8 0 0.7 0 0.8 3 28.3 12 Incheon 4 35.3 7 34.9 0 18.6 0 3.6 2 7.3 13 Gwangju 0 2.2 0 34.1 8 56.3 0 1.6 0 2.6 8 Daejeon 3 38.4 4 43.6 0 15.1 0 1.7 0 0.9 7 Ulsan 3 38.5 0 16.5 0 4.8 – 3 35.6 6 Sejong 0 10.6 0 36.0 0 8.3 – 1 43.7 1 Gyeonggi 19 39.2 40 42.7 0 14.2 1 2.2 1 1.1 60 Gangwon 6 47.7 1 35.3 0 2.0 0 1.0 1 13.2 8 North Chungcheong 5 48.0 3 41.9 0 7.7 0 0.4 0 1.4 8 South Chungcheong 6 41.4 5 42.1 0 10.3 0 0.3 0 5.7 11 North Jeolla 1 9.8 2 38.8 7 42.2 0 1.4 0 7.2 10 South Jeolla 1 11.6 1 38.1 8 43.8 0 1.1 0 3.0 10 North Gyeongsang 13 60.9. 0 8.2 0 1.0 0 3.1 0 23.0 13 South Gyeongsang 12 48.5 3 31.5 0 4.1 1 4.2 0 11.1 16 Jeju 0 41.4 3 48.6 0 9.7 – – 3 Total 105 38.3 110 37.0 25 14.9 2 1.6 11 7.0 253 + Party list vote results by city/province Region Saenuri DPK PP JP Other Seoul 30.8 25.9 28.8 8.5 6.0 Busan 41.2 26.6 20.3 6.0 5.9 Daegu 53.1 16.3 17.4 6.1 7.1 Incheon 33.4 25.4 26.9 7.5 6.8 Gwangju 2.9 28.6 53.3 7.3 7.9 Daejeon 31.0 28.2 27.1 7.6 6.1 Ulsan 36.7 22.8 21.1 8.7 10.7 Sejong 28.6 28.5 26.6 8.9 7.4 Gyeonggi 32.3 26.8 27.0 7.8 6.1 Gangwon 43.4 23.9 19.3 5.7 7.7 North Chungcheong 38.6 27.6 21.4 5.6 6.8 South Chungcheong 37.0 27.1 22.5 5.6 7.8 North Jeolla 7.6 32.3 42.8 8.1 9.2 South Jeolla 5.7 30.0 47.8 5.8 10.7 North Gyeongsang 58.1 12.9 14.8 5.2 9.0 South Gyeongsang 44.0 24.4 17.4 6.5 7.7 Jeju 35.0 29.6 22.4 7.0 6.0 Overall total 33.5 25.5 26.7 7.2 7.0 Seat allocation 17 13 13 4 0 Aftermath The day after the election, Saenuri chairman Kim Moo-sung tendered his resignation over his party's defeat, saying that he would "take responsibility for the resounding defeat in the general elections"; Kim Tae-ho, a member of the party's Supreme Council, and secretary-general Hwang Jin-ha also announced their resignation.https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160414000285 Saenuri Party leader Kim Moo-sung offers to step down over election debacle The Korea Herald 14 April 2016 14 April 2016 After the mass resignation of the party leadership, the party established an emergency committee led by floor leader Won Yoo-chul to lead the party on an interim basis.https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160414000869 Ruling party reeling from election rout: Saenuri to launch emergency leadership, take in defectors The Korea Herald 14 April 2016 14 April 2016 In order to regain the party's plurality in the Assembly, Won announced that Saenuri would receive independent lawmakers who had previously been deselected by the party back into its ranks. Ahn Sang-soo, one of the deselected candidates who had re-entered the Assembly as an independent, declared his desire to rejoin the party, while another, Yoo Seong-min, stated that he would rejoin at an appropriate time. President Park stated on 18 April that she "humbly accepted" the election result, and would "closely cooperate with the new National Assembly".https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160418000869 President accepts Saenuri defeat as people message The Korea Herald 18 April 2016 19 April 2016https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/04/116_202869.html Park and Saenuri's approval ratings dip to new lows The Korea Times 18 April 2016 19 April 2016 A survey conducted in the two days following the election showed Park's approval rating falling to 31.5 percent, her lowest ratings in office yet and 8.1 percentage points down from the week before the election. The election was seen to have a limited effect on the Korean stock market, since the prospect of a hung parliament appeared to diminish the chance of ambitious economic policies being implemented.https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160414000801 Changed political landscape to have limited effect on stock market: analysts The Korea Herald 14 April 2016 14 April 2016 Nonetheless, on a more limited scale, the performance of companies tied to prominent figures reflected the election results: shares in AhnLab, Inc., whose founder and largest stakeholder is People Party co-chairman Ahn Cheol-soo, had risen 5.2% by 2 p.m. KST on 14 April following Ahn's election success, while textile company Chonbang, chaired by Kim Moo-sung's brother, fell 19.2% in the same time frame. See also List of members of the National Assembly (South Korea), 2016–2020 Notes n References 30em Category:Legislative elections in South Korea South Korea Legislative Legislative