| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Kuk Hoe / National Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
13 April 2016 |
| Purpose of elections |
The Minjoo Party of Korea (see note 1) created a surprise by defeating President Park Geun-hye's Saenuri Party by a one-seat margin, winning 123 seats in the 300-member National Assembly. The Saenuri Party ceased to be the largest parliamentary force for the first time since 2000 (see note 2). The People's Party, a new party established in February 2016 by former school dean Ahn Cheol-soo, fared well, taking 38 seats.
The 2016 elections took place amid anxiety over an economic slowdown and rising youth unemployment. During the election campaign the major parties focused on economic issues, job creation and welfare projects. The elections were held shortly after the UN Security Council strengthened sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in response to a nuclear test in January and the use of ballistic missile technology in February. The major parties focused on national security issues, in particular policies towards the DPRK.
Note 1:
In March 2014, the Democratic Party (formerly the Democratic United Party, DUP, which took 127 seats in the 2012 elections) and the New Political Vision Party merged to form the New Politics Alliance for Democracy. In December 2015, the Alliance was renamed as the Minjoo Party of Korea. The Minjoo Party's interim leader, Mr. Kim Chong-in, was formerly President Park's chief election campaigner and economic advisor, but joined the Minjoo Party in January 2016, criticizing the government's economic policies.
Note 2:
The predecessor of the Saenuri Party, the Grand National Party, became the largest parliamentary force in 2000, taking 133 of the 273 seats at stake. |
Date of previous elections: 11 April 2012
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 29 May 2016
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections: April 2020
Number of seats at stake: 300 (full renewal)
Number of candidates: 1,102*
*944 (844 men, 100 women) under the majority system and 158 under the proportional representation system
Percentage of women candidates: 10.6% for the majority system.
Number of parties contesting the election: 14 (under the PR system)
Number of parties winning seats: 4
Alternation of power: No*
*Presidential system.
Number of parties in government: 1
Names of parties in government: Saenuri Party
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 30 May 2016
Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Chung, Sye-kyun (Minjoo Party of Korea) |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 13 April 2016 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
42'100'398
24'430'746 (58.03%)
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| Minjoo Party of Korea |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Saenuri Party |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| People's Party |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Justice Party |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
|
|
|
|
| Minjoo Party of Korea |
123
|
|
|
|
|
| Saenuri Party |
122
|
|
|
|
|
| People's Party |
38
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents |
11
|
|
|
|
|
| Justice Party |
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
249
51
17.00%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Sources:
National Assembly (14.04.2016, 12.05.2016, 09.06.2016)
http://www.nec.go.kr
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr
http://www.wsj.com
http://thediplomat.com
Note on the distribution of seats:
The number of seats won by the Minjoo Party of Korea includes the Speaker. In accordance with the Act of the National Assembly, the Speaker may not belong to any party during his term in office. |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
