① The Saenuri Party fails to win a majority; opposition parties together win a majority due to a breakthrough by the People’s Party
1. Ruling party 129 seats, Opposition parties 171 seats
The Saenuri Party failed to win a majority of seats, securing only 105 electoral district representative seats and 17 proportional representative seats. The Minjoo Party won 123 seats and became the 1st party among floor negotiating groups. The solidarity of opposition parties in each case will stand out to act as the biggest unknown in the National Assembly since the People’s Party won 38 seats, the Justice Party won 6, and independents friendly to the opposition parties won 4.
The People’s Party holds the deciding vote, an influential position over legislation in the 20th National Assembly, as it increased its representation to 38 from the present 20 lawmakers.
[Table 1] Results of the 20th General Elections
|
Saenuri Party |
Minjoo Party | People’s Party | Justice Party | Independents | ||
| Friendly to ruling party |
Friendly to opposition parties |
|||||
|
Electoral district representatives |
105 | 110 | 25 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
|
Proportional representatives |
17 |
13 |
13 |
4 |
– |
|
| Total | 122 | 123 | 38 | 6 |
11 |
|
② Twenty-two pro-labor representatives in the National Assembly
1. More pro-labor representatives enter the National Assembly
A total of 22 pro-labor representatives will enter the National Assembly: 4 from the Saenuri Party, 12 from the Minjoo Party, 2 from the People’s party, 2 from the Justice Party and 2 independents. Labor’s influence over the National Assembly is expected to expand as more pro-labor representatives are a part of the floor negotiating groups than in the past National Assemblies: 22 for the 20th National Assembly, 15 in the 19th National Assembly, and 14 in the 18th National Assembly
2. A number of incumbent pro-labor lawmakers are re-elected for the 20th National Assembly and more pro-labor actions are likely
Of the 22 pro-labor representatives entering the 20th National Assembly, 11 are from the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) and 7 from the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU).
Labor’s influence over the National Assembly is expected to increase, such as more possibilities of pro-labor chairmen for the Standing Committees, secretaries of the Standing Committees, and potentially pro-labor leaders of the parties since 1 pro-labor lawmaker has been elected for a fourth term, 6 elected for a third term, and 6 elected for a second term.