By Richard Zinleri
If you love Politics and International current affairs, then, meet South Korea’s new President-elect, Yoon Suk-Yeol.
Yoon Suk-Yeol who represented the main opposition, People Power Party (PPP) was elected new President of Korea, tasked with leading the country for the next five years as South Koreans go to the Polls every 5-year tenure.
The Former Prosecutor General clinched power by securing 16 million votes, making 48.59%, out of the 97.67% of total votes counted as of 3:50 a.m., Thursday, March 10, 2022.
In the early process of counting, Yoon was leading his rival ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Candidate Lee Jae-myung by 0.8% points, and Mr. Suk-Yeol was expected to clinch the victory regardless of the uncounted ballots.
However, in the past, the smallest gap before this year’s Wednesday 2022 election was the 15th Presidential election which was in 1997, in which the National Congress for New Politics Candidate Kim Dae-Jung won over Hannara Party Candidate Lee Hoi-chang by 390,557 of ballots casted.
Mr. Suk-Yeol is expected to be declared President-elect after the South Korean National Election Commission’s (NEC) official confirmation, and then he
Mr. Suk-Yeol is takes over the Presidential mantle from President Moon Jae-in on May 10, 2022. Before then, Mr. Suk-Yeol is expected will be declared President-elect after the South Korean National Election Commission’s (NEC) official confirmation.
In the meantime, President-elect Yoon is expected to organize his Presidential Transition Committee within two or three weeks. The Presidential Transition Committee will remain active for a few months after the Presidential inauguration to allow a successful transition.
Statistically, the total voter turnout for Wednesday’s election was estimated at 77.1%, which is below an earlier anticipation that the number may pass above 80% for the first time in 25 years. It was 0.1% point lower than the previous Presidential election in the year 2017.
Per the norm in the South Korean political arena, after the NEC’s confirmation of Yoon’s victory, the Presidential Secret Service will be in charge of Yoon’s security, thereby according him the privileges of a president-elect.
The DPK Presidential Candidate, Lee is reported to have admitted defeat at a Press Conference before the PPP Candidate Yoon announced his victory.
Views from the people indicate change of political leadership through the ballot in the Republic of Korea. They wish the people of Korea the best of the years ahead of President-elect Yoon’s Administration. They say, ”Democratic tenets once again have deepened in this part of Asia amid the Covid pandemic and a time of political turmoil in other parts of the world”.
Background:
South Korea holds elections on a national level every 5-years to elect their President (only for a single 5-year term) and the National Assembly Members.
Local elections are held every 4-year tenure to elect Governors, Metropolitan Mayors, Provincial and Municipal Legislatures. Their National Assembly has 300 Members, with 253 in single-seat Constituencies and 47 Members by Proportional Representation.
One Response
Great Ghanaian with inight about Korea. Thank you Richard Zinleri