South Korea
South Korea votes in legislative elections next Wednesday, April 10, with all 300 seats in the country’s single-chamber National Assembly up for grabs.
This vote is widely considered a referendum on the presidency of Yoon Suk Yeol, who was elected just over two years ago by a razor-thin margin. The stakes in this election are high for Yoon, who suffers from low approval ratings and whose agenda has so far been hampered by his conservative People Power Party’s lack of control in the Assembly. An electoral victory next week would pave the way for Yoon to implement his proposed reforms during his remaining three years in office.
In South Korea’s increasingly polarized political landscape, domestic issues are set to play the deciding role in this vote. But the outcome could still have an important impact on South Korea’s foreign policy. So far, Yoon has also sought to align Seoul more closely with Washington and improve security ties with Tokyo. An electoral victory for his party would allow Yoon to formalize that strategic direction.