On June 14, less than 24 hours after the Trump-Kim Summit in Singapore, South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party (DP) won a landslide victory in local elections, winning 13 of 17 metropolitan mayoral and gubernatorial posts. It was a major boost for President Moon Jae-in and a reaffirmation of his country’s faith in him and his diplomacy with North Korea and the United States. And, as the graphic from the Korea Times illustrates, it was a resounding defeat for the right-wing opposition Liberty Korea Party (the photo above shows LKP leader Hong Joon-pyo leaving his campaign headquarters after the results became clear). Today, DISPATCH KOREA offers an analysis of the elections from Simone Chun, an academic-activist who has taught at Northeastern University in Boston, served as an associate in research at Harvard University’s Korea Institute, and is an active member of the Korea Peace Network. Take it away, Simone!
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