South Korea: Coronavirus Battle Propels Moon’s Party to Election Win

By Staff, Agencies

South Korean President Moon Jae-in's ruling party won an absolute majority in parliamentary elections, according to Thursday results, a landslide victory propelled by successes in the country's efforts to contain the new coronavirus.

The election was watched around the world as one of the first nationwide votes since the pandemic began.

The country’s authorities took stringent safety measures, disinfecting all 14,000 polling stations and requiring voters to wear masks, have their temperatures checked, use hand sanitizer and plastic gloves and maintain a safe distance from others.

Driven by record high participation in early voting over the weekend, turnout was 66.2%, higher than any parliamentary elections held since 1992, according to the National Election Commission.

About 2,800 coronavirus patients were allowed to vote by mail or in person, using special booths, while more than 13,000 in self-quarantine cast their ballots after polls closed.

Approval ratings for Moon and his Democratic Party took a serious blow in February when the first major outbreak outside of China hit South Korea, which was already reeling from a stagnant economy and a series of domestic political scandals.

But since then, the administration's largely successful campaign against the virus provided a boon for Moon and his progressive party in the election.

The ruling camp secured 180 seats in the 300-member, single-chamber parliament, up from the current 120. The main conservative opposition coalition won 103 seats, according to the National Election Commission.