Korea - 2024 - National Assembly Election

The Republic of Korea is a constitutional democracy governed by a president and a unicameral legislature. The law provides citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage. In the runup to parliamentary elections scheduled for April 2024, the PPP held only 155 (37.5%) of the National Assembly’s 299 seats, while the main opposition centrist-liberal Democratic Party (DP) has a solid majority with 169 seats (56.2%). The DP’s continued majority generally made it harder for Yoon to pursue his liberal economic agenda.

Observers considered the 09 March 2022 presidential and June 1 local elections free and fair. Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: restrictions on freedom of expression, including the use of criminal libel laws; government corruption; lack of investigation of and accountability for gender-based violence; and laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults in the military.

There were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities. NGOs and media reported mistreatment of subordinates by more senior military personnel, as well as credible allegations of sexual harassment and assault. NGOs expressed concern regarding suicides in the military, particularly among lower-ranking officers and noncommissioned officers (NCOs). Prison and detention center conditions were generally adequate, and detainees had access to relief measures.

The law provides for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, and the government generally respected this right. An independent press, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of expression, including for the press.

The government and public figures used libel and slander laws, which broadly define and criminalize defamation, to restrict public discussion and harass, intimidate, or censor private and media expression. The law allows punishment of up to three years in prison for statements found to be “slander” or “libel,” even if factual, and up to seven years for statements found to be false. There were some government restrictions on internet access, and the government enjoyed wide legal authority to monitor email and internet chat rooms.

The law may be used to prohibit or limit assemblies considered likely to undermine public order and requires advance notification for demonstrations of all types, including political rallies, and imposes some restrictions on where protests may take place. By law the government rigorously and extensively regulates political expression by public officials and teachers, even in their private lives and regardless of their job duties. Public officials are also prohibited from joining political parties.

On 21 July 2022 the Constitutional Court ruled that a clause in an election law banning rallies and gatherings during official campaign periods breaches the Constitution. The court also said rallies and gatherings cannot be viewed as causing specific harm to equal opportunity and election fairness, so clamping down on them violates such freedom. The court noted the decision supports the view that voters do not passively remain on the sidelines of election campaigns but that they can also exercise their rights by expressing their opinions about candidates, an act that comprises an important element of a democratic society.

Regarding another clause that bans putting up banners and advertising materials designed to influence elections from 180 days before the elections, the court also ruled it as unconstitutional in a unanimous decision. The ruling is expected to bring about major changes in the rallies and gatherings during the election campaigns starting with the next general elections in April 2024.

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-Yeol will face mounting challenges in the lead-up to parliamentary elections scheduled for 10 April 2024. Yoon’s administration will need to cope with a difficult macroeconomic backdrop, while pursuing his liberal economic agenda. Yoon’s approval rating has been on a broad decline since his inauguration in May 2022, sliding from around 50.0% at the start of his term to 34.7% in mid- November. The South Korean economy will likely grapple with the ongoing weakness in global growth and elevated household debt levels amid tight monetary conditions.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) said it respected the outcome of the 12 October 2023 by-election for chief of Seoul's Gangseo District as it pledged to humbly reflect on the loss. At a Supreme Council meeting, PPP leader Kim Gi-hyeon took stock of the vote that ended with a 17-point-15 percentage point loss for its candidate, Kim Tae-woo, to main opposition Democratic Party candidate Jin Kyo-hoon. Kim said that while the odds were against the ruling party in the district, it will realistically analyze the result and pursue special measures to achieve victory in next year's general elections. The party chief promised a custom approach for the capital area and other regions where the PPP suffers from relatively weak public support.

In a statement issued under the name of senior spokesperson Yoo Sang-bum, the PPP said the party and the government will exert further efforts to normalize the abnormal, restore liberal democracy and expedite the recovery of livelihoods and the economy, with only the people’s well-being in mind.

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) said its victory in the by-election for chief of Gangseo District embodied the people’s stern rebuke of the Yoon Suk Yeol government’s handling of state affairs. DP senior spokesperson Kwon Chil-seung revealed the party stance as he described the government as being tainted with incompetence, self-righteousness and a lack of communication. Kwon urged President Yoon Suk Yeol to humbly accept the election results and discard his operation of state affairs centered on arrogance and self-righteousness to pursue a major overhaul in the national administration.

The PPP's innovation committee, which wrapped up early, recommended that the party leadership and figures close to the president either sit out the next election or run in districts with historically weak support for the ruling party. The proposal was opposed by PPP Rep. Chang Je-won, widely considered a key member of a faction close to President Yoon Suk Yeol, who announced 12 December 2023 that he will not seek a fourth term in April's general elections.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) chief Kim Gi-hyeon stepped down 13 December 2023 in the face of discord over recommendations by the party's innovation panel and sinking approval ratings ahead of the elections. Justice minister Han Dong-hoon was selected as its emergency leadership committee chief ahead of April's general elections. Han's high approval ratings as a future political leader raised expectations the former justice minister would garner support from the youth and moderate voters, while also bringing together the country's conservatives in support of the ruling party.

A new party, "New Choice", was launched in South Korea 18 December 2023. It defined itself as a group combining rational progressives and reforming conservatives. Geum Tae-seop, the president of this new group, expressed his ambition to obtain 30 seats in the legislative elections scheduled for April 2024. Many personalities participated in the party's inauguration ceremony. The latter are seeking in particular to create or join a new formation or an independent camp different from the People Power Party (PPP), the presidential party, and Minjo, the first opposition formation.

Lee Nak-yon, the former head of Minjoo, sent congratulatory words in pictures, while Lee Jun-suk, the former chairman of the PPP, did not rule out a possible coalition with this new option. For his part, Geum said that he had some contacts with the former, but that with Lee Jun-suk, no direct exchange had yet taken place. In the process, Lee Nak-yeon once again confirmed his desire to create a new party at the beginning of next year in the event of no significant change within Minjoo. He also criticized the petition signed by around 70 elected officials from the center-left party, opposing a possible division of the party.

Eyes were on New Choice to see if this newborn party could generate a surprise coalition between the former presidents of the PPP and Minjoo.

An opinion poll conducted by Yonhap News credited the PPP with 37% support, compared to 45% for the DP.

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) Hong Ihk-pyo made the called 22 December 2023 for an investigation into the so-called "Five Million Won Club" linked to the Daejang-dong development scandal as well as alleged stock manipulation by First Lady Kim Keon-hee. Hong also called for an investigation into the death of a Marine who died after being swept away by a torrent during flood rescue operations in July, as well as a probe into the Yangpyeong Expressway project which allegedly benefitted the family of the first lady.