Highlights: In South Korea, former minister Cho-Kuk forges a third path in uncertain legislative elections. The legislative elections of April 10 could be a turning point in the country's history. The Democratic opposition is also criticized while the party leader is entangled in multiple corruption scandals. The South Koreans could express their discontent by opting for a third force that seems to be emerging, led by a corrosive figure, former Justice Minister Cho-kuk. He claims to want to make the head of state a “ lame duck, then a dead duck ”

In South Korea, former minister Cho-Kuk forges a third path in uncertain legislative elections

The legislative elections of April 10 could be a turning point in the country's history: the particularly unpopular president risks going through his mandate without a parliamentary majority. The Democratic opposition is also criticized while the party leader is entangled in multiple corruption scandals. The South Koreans could express their discontent by opting for a third force that seems to be emerging, led by a corrosive figure, former Justice Minister Cho-Kuk.

Cho Kuk, head of the Korea Refoundation Party, during a campaign rally in Seoul, April 4, 2024. AP - Ahn Young-joon

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Seoul,

Nicolas Rocca

These

legislative elections

are a referendum on President Yoon Suk-yeol. Here is how to summarize the successful political strategy of Cho-Kuk, who claims to want to make the head of state a “

lame duck, then a dead duck

”.

The former Democratic minister was able to impose this theme at the heart of the legislative campaign. It must be said that he has a personal disagreement with the current head of state. While Cho-Kuk was in the running to run for president, a scandal surrounding forging documents to get his daughter into college forced him to drop out. He was sentenced to two years in prison, notably due to the tenacity of the prosecutor in charge of the investigation at the time, Yoon Suk-yeol. He is now awaiting the Supreme Court's decision.

Shoulder to shoulder

But even behind bars, Cho-Kuk could influence Yoon Suk-yeol's destiny. His Korea Refoundation Party is credited with around twenty points of voting intention, neck and neck with the Democrats and the conservatives, according to the Gallup polling institute.

The party only presents candidates for the 46 elected by proportional representation, it could obtain around ten seats. Enough to be a central force in the National Assembly. Cho-Kuk could join the opposition and make Yoon Suk-yeol the first president to go through his term without a majority in Parliament.

Read alsoSouth Korea: ten days before the legislative elections, spy cameras were hidden in polling stations

In South Korea, former minister Cho-Kuk forges a third path in uncertain legislative elections

In South Korea, former minister Cho-Kuk forges a third path in uncertain legislative elections

Shoulder to shoulder

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