[Anchor]
The ruling Democratic Party secured a landslide victory in the general elections, reflecting growing public support for President Moon Jae-in, his party, and their ability to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Their win delivered a crushing blow to the main opposition United Future Party.
To give us a rundown on the results of the elections, our Julie Sohn joins us in the studio.
Hello, Julie.
Have all the votes been counted?
[Reporter]
Yes. According to the National Election Commission, the ruling DP and its satellite party secured 180 seats in the 300-member National Assembly, winning a majority of parliamentary seats for the first time in 16 years.
By region, the ruling party dominated Seoul with its candidates winning in 41 of the city's 49 constituencies.
Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon of the DP beat UFP Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn in Seoul's Jongno District.
The main opposition party and its sister party won 103 posts winning only in traditionally conservative areas of Busan, Daegu, and Gyeongsang provinces.
Hwang resigned as chair of the UFP to take responsibility for their defeat.
[Anchor]
How is the DP's victory and absolute majority in the 21st National Assembly going to impact President Moon's administration and policy drive going forward?
[Reporter]
It's expected to give Moon fresh momentum for the remainder of his single, five-year term, and enable him to focus on pending agendas, including prosecution reform and the swift passage of a proposed extra budget to finance the government's emergency coronavirus relief funds.
[Anchor]
The numbers show minor parties failed to benefit from the new mixed-member proportional representation scheme that was revised to work favorably for them.
[Reporter]
Right. The main opposition's satellite party is set to take 19 seats, while 17 will go to the ruling party's offshoot.
Five seats will go to the Justice Party, and three each to the People's Party and the Open Democratic Party.
Smaller parties' aspirations to clinch more seats fell through as the two largest parties' creation of satellite parties undermined the intent of the scheme.
[Anchor]
Despite concerns the pandemic would dampen voting, a record number of people showed up at the polls.
[Reporter]
Yes. More than 29.1 million of 44 million eligible voters cast their ballots yesterday, leading to a voter turnout of 66.2 percent, the highest in 28 years.■
<Photo: Yonhap News>
