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as well as the improved relations with Japan that Yoon had sought and the
7
Americans have pushed for years.
Additionally, since Yoon took office in May 2022, the Democratic Party used its
position in the National Assembly to block his policies at every turn, to include
gutting his proposed budget for running the country, tried to impeach Yoon or his
officials 22 times, and are targeting his wife on corruption charges.

This is beyond sharp-elbowed politics.
Yoon described it as a "legislative dictatorship.”

2024 National Assembly election

In April 2024, after two years of stymying President Yoon’s reform agenda – and
personally attacking the President and his associates (and family members) the
Democratic Party and its allies won a solid victory in South Korea’s National
Assembly elections – further strengthening the DP’s grip on the National Assembly.

The Democratic Party and its allies, to include the newly formed Rebuilding Korea
Party (founded by former DP members) which gained 12 seats – added over 30 seats
to hold 189 seats in the 300-member National Assembly. Meanwhile, the ruling
conservative PPP – People Power Party – lost six seats and ended up along with its
allied party at 111 seats.

About the only good news for President Yoon and the PPP is that the opposition did
not gain the 200 seats needed to impeach the president, override the presidential
veto, or amend the constitution. But otherwise, they are able to turn the presidency
into a lame duck session for the remaining years of his term.

Irregularities in the 2024 National Assembly Election

The electoral irregularities highlighted and raised in 2020 and following the 2022
presidential election have continued in varying degrees and forms in subsequent
South Korean elections. The 2024 National Assembly election was no exception – as
was the lack of response by the National Election Commission, the judiciary, and
others, including the media.

Some of the allegations and evidence included:

l Ballot irregularities

– Ballots that are pristine and appear to have never been handled – nor folded as
is the case with nearly all ballots. According to a lawyer, The Grand National
Innovation Party, founded by Professor Cho Gook and President Moon Jae In’s
secretary, won 12 seats which is considered a very unlikely result. Photographs

7 Tara O of East Asia Research conVnues to do excellent work on this topic. Her research is invaluable for
anyone interested in understanding the backgrounds, ideologies, and poliVcal objecVves of South Korea's
le^ists. Ralph Cossa of Pacific Forum has provided further background informaVon on this topic as editor of
Trilateral Korea-Japan-U.S. CooperaVon: Dealing with North Korea-China Challenges.
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