Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
Moon likely to have steady state management in remaining term
President Moon Jae-in participates in a video conference with the leaders of China, Japan and ASESN member countries from Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. Public support for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea in Wednesday's general election is forecast to allow him to push ahead with key policies during the remainder of his term that ends in May 2022. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae
By Yi Whan-woo
By Yi Whan-woo
Optimism is rising that President Moon Jae-in will be able to run state affairs steadily for the remainder of his term with the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) expected to win big in Wednesday's general election.
If the ruling party and the liberal bloc take the majority of the 300-seat National Assembly, his policies are expected to more easily get parliamentary endorsement.
Such a result has come after public approval for the President and the ruling party bounced back from the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic when criticism mounted over the government's poor response to the outbreak.
The high approval rates in recent surveys indicate the public has given high marks for the Moon administration's capability in handling the crisis, which is now becoming a worldwide exemplar.
As this year's general election has been seen as a midterm assessment of the President, whose single, five-year presidency will end in May 2022, political analysts say the result shows the public generally approve of Moon's policies ― or at least they are not seriously disappointed with them ― and this will give him a boost to push forward with his goals during the remaining term.
Some of Moon's key policies have not been properly carried out yet after failing to get Assembly approval, blocked by the conservative opposition.
Among these policies are peace overtures to North Korea, income-driven economic growth and the creation of an independent investigative body for corruption among high-profile public officials.
Each policy has been disputed amid the stalled denuclearization dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang, the prolonged economic downturn and opposition from the prosecution as well as the conservatives to each of these, respectively.
“The President, backed by the people, will have no hurdle in implementing these policies,” said Myongji University political science professor Shin Yul. “The latter half of Moon's presidency is no longer a matter of being a lame duck or steady state management, but a matter of whether he will become omnipotent.”
Another political analyst, Choi Yo-han, voiced a similar view.
“The opposition will not be able to stop the President from doing what he wishes to,” Choi said.
Asked whether the result of the general election will have an impact on the 2022 presidential election, Shin said, “very likely.”
“This is because the DPK will be able to form a favorable environment for its presidential hopefuls.”
Choi speculated a “bumpy road may lie ahead” for the opposition bloc that sought to convince the people to deliver a judgment on the government.
“The result shows people simply did not buy it,” he said. “The opposition clearly fails to communicate with the people and it will continue to lose ground if it does not undergo an overhaul.”