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• The Republic of South Korea held parliamentary elections on April 9, 2008. The previous majority party, the United Democratic Party (UDP), lost to the conservative Grand National Party (GNP). The GNP is now the majority party, and leads the UDP by 72 seats. The GNP's success was attributed largely to the low voter turnout.The Hankyoreh: Political apathy leads to record-low voter turnout (April 10, 2008)

• Fast Facts

  1. Took place: April 9, 2008
  2. Total electorate: 37.8 million voters
  3. Voter turnout: 17.4 million (46.0%)
  4. Lowest turnout in South Korea's history
  5. Election for National Assembly, South Korea's legislative branch
  6. Total number of seats: 299
  7. All seats available in election
  8. Five major parties and one faction campaigned
  9. Previous majority party, United Democratic Party, lost nearly half their seats
  10. Conservative Grand National Party won a large majority of seats

• Results

  • Majority leader: Grand National Party
    • Votes: 6.4 million (37.4%)
    • Seats won: 153
    • Change: +32
  • Minority leader: United Democratic Party
    • Votes: 4.3 million (25.1%)
    • Seats won: 81
    • Change: -80
  • Third place: Park Geun-hye Coalition
    • Votes: 2.3 million (13.1%)
    • Seats won: 14
    • Change: +14

• 10% of Electorate

  • Independents, Liberty Forward Party, Democratic Labour Party, Creative Korea PartyAdam Carr's Election Archive: 2008 South Korean Legislative Election Results

• Key Issues

  1. Free trade agreement with the United States
  2. President Lee Myung-bak's plan to streamline government and reduce ministries
  3. Increasing economic growth to 6% annually
  4. Improving relations with North Korea

• Related Mahalo Pages

  South Korea | Seoul | North Korea | Lee Myung-bak | Grand National Party

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