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| 2012 South Korean legislative election | |
|---|---|
| Election name | 2012 South Korean legislative election |
| Country | South Korea |
| Type | legislative |
| Previous election | 2008 South Korean legislative election |
| Previous year | 2008 |
| Next election | 2016 South Korean legislative election |
| Next year | 2016 |
| Seats for election | 300 seats in the National Assembly |
| Majority seats | 151 |
| Election date | 11 April 2012 |
2012 South Korean legislative election The 2012 South Korean legislative election elected all 300 members of the National Assembly on 11 April 2012. The contest featured major parties including the Saenuri Party, the Democratic United Party, and the Unified Progressive Party, alongside regional and minor parties such as the Liberty Forward Party and independent figures tied to provincial politics. The outcome shaped the legislative balance ahead of the 2012 presidential election and influenced coalitions involving leaders like Park Geun-hye, Moon Jae-in, and Ahn Cheol-soo.
The election occurred during the presidency of Lee Myung-bak amid tensions with North Korea following incidents such as the Sinking of ROKS Cheonan aftermath debates and the 2010 bombardment of Yeonpyeong. Domestic issues traced to the 2008 global financial crisis, policy disputes over the KORUS FTA, and controversies surrounding the Four Major Rivers Project shaped party narratives. The Saenuri Party, successor to the Grand National Party, defended its legislative position against the opposition Democratic United Party, itself a product of earlier realignments involving the Uri Party and the Democratic Party.
Members were elected under a mixed system combining single-member constituencies and proportional representation. Of the 300 seats, 246 were filled by first-past-the-post in single-member districts reflecting constituencies across Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, Busan, and other regions, while 54 seats were allocated by closed-list proportional representation. The electoral framework followed provisions in the Constitution of South Korea and electoral law administered by the National Election Commission (South Korea), with thresholds influencing representation of smaller parties like the Progressive Justice Party (later Justice Party).
Major parties contesting included the conservative Saenuri Party led by figures such as Kim Moo-sung, the liberal Democratic United Party with leaders including Han Myeong-sook and Moon Jae-in, and the left-wing Unified Progressive Party featuring activists like Lee Jung-hee. The centrist Liberty Forward Party under Lee Hoi-chang and new entrants tied to civic movements, including movements associated with Ahn Cheol-soo, also fielded candidates. High-profile incumbents and former ministers from cabinets of Roh Moo-hyun and Lee Myung-bak ran in key districts such as Jongno and Seongnam. The candidate roster included prominent mayors and former governors from Incheon, Daegu, and Gwangju.
Campaign debates centered on economic policy, employment, and social welfare framed by the 2008 financial crisis recovery, as well as regional security concerns tied to North Korea incidents and the United States–South Korea alliance. Controversy over the KORUS FTA and public spending on infrastructure like the Four Major Rivers Project polarized voters. Corruption scandals and reform agendas invoked institutions such as the Supreme Court of Korea and the Prosecutor's Office (South Korea), while cultural issues and regionalism—notably tensions between Gyeongsang Province and Jeolla Province—shaped candidate appeals. Media outlets including KBS (Korean Broadcasting System), MBC, and YTN covered televised debates and investigative reporting that affected campaign narratives.
Opinion polls by firms like Gallup Korea, Hankook Research, and Korea Research tracked party support in national and constituency samples. Early polls showed competitive races between the Saenuri Party and the Democratic United Party with shifting leads in metropolitan areas such as Seoul and Incheon, while the Unified Progressive Party polled strongly in Gwangju and parts of Jeolla Province. Polling dynamics were influenced by events including leadership changes within parties and statements by public figures like Park Geun-hye and Ahn Cheol-soo, and by turnout projections from the National Election Commission (South Korea).
The Saenuri Party emerged as the largest party, securing a plurality of seats and defeating the Democratic United Party in several constituencies across Seoul and Gyeongsang Province. The Democratic United Party retained strength in parts of Gyeonggi Province and Jeolla Province, while the Unified Progressive Party won representation concentrated in urban districts and Gwangju. Electoral outcomes reflected regional voting patterns, incumbent advantages, and the proportional allocation that granted minor parties footholds in the National Assembly (South Korea). Turnout and seat distribution influenced party strategies toward the upcoming 2012 South Korean presidential election.
Following the election, the Saenuri Party's strengthened position affected legislative relations with the Blue House and the incoming presidential campaign of Park Geun-hye, who subsequently won the presidency later in 2012. The Democratic United Party underwent leadership reviews with figures like Moon Jae-in emerging as key opposition voices. Coalition-building and committee chair assignments in the National Assembly (South Korea) involved negotiations with smaller groups and independents from regions such as Busan and Daegu. The new Assembly addressed legislation on trade agreements, budget matters, and oversight tied to prior administrations of Lee Myung-bak and Roh Moo-hyun, shaping South Korea's policy trajectory into the mid-2010s.
Category:Legislative elections in South Korea