Democratic Party Returns to Power, Tightens Grip on State Governance

Political Landscape Shifts to "Ruling Party Majority, Opposition Minority"
Coalition Formed with Cho Kuk Innovation Party and Progressive Party

With President Lee Jae Myung's victory in the 21st presidential election, the political landscape has shifted to a "ruling party majority, opposition minority" structure. The Democratic Party, now the ruling party, had already secured an overwhelming majority by winning 182 out of 300 National Assembly seats in the 22nd general election last year. With this presidential victory, the party now holds control over both the legislative and executive branches. In addition, by forming a "super-ruling coalition" with allied parties such as the Cho Kuk Innovation Party and the Progressive Party, the early governance of the Lee Jae Myung administration is expected to have truly "megaton-level" momentum.

President Lee Jae Myung and his wife are entering the 21st presidential inauguration ceremony held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on June 4, 2025, greeting the attendees. Photo by Kim Hyun Min

On the afternoon of June 4, the Democratic Party plans to hold a full session of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee to process a revision to the Court Organization Act, which centers on increasing the number of Supreme Court justices. This move is seen as an attempt to exert influence over the judiciary from President Lee's very first day in office.

The Judiciary Committee intends to process the amendment in the first subcommittee at 2 p.m., then submit it for a vote in the full committee meeting at 4 p.m. on the same day. The amendment is highly likely to be passed at the National Assembly plenary session scheduled for June 5. Jeong Cheongrae, the Democratic Party’s chair of the Judiciary Committee, announced on social media in the morning, "We will hold the Judiciary Committee at 4 p.m. today (June 4). We plan to process the Court Organization Act (increase in Supreme Court justices). The National Assembly will do its job as it should."

The amendment to the Public Official Election Act deletes the term "act" from the requirements for the crime of disseminating false information under election law. The Judiciary Committee, led by the Democratic Party, already passed this amendment in a full committee meeting on May 14. If the amendment passes the plenary session, President Lee's retrial could result in a "dismissal" verdict, meaning he cannot be punished due to the abolition of the relevant legal provision.

The Democratic Party had already signaled an "aggressive legislative drive" prior to the presidential election, pledging to pass amendments to the Public Official Election Act and the Criminal Procedure Act during the June extraordinary session of the National Assembly.

A large-scale special investigation targeting the Yoon Suk Yeol administration is also expected to proceed. Throughout the presidential campaign, President Lee championed the slogan of "ending sedition." There is speculation that the "Special Act on Sedition" could pass the plenary session as well.

During the previous administration, when the Democratic Party was in opposition, they repeatedly saw their major legislative initiatives scrapped due to frequent vetoes by former President Yoon Suk Yeol. However, under the Lee Jae Myung administration, the executive branch’s check on legislative power has effectively disappeared, allowing the ruling party to wield legislative authority more freely.

The president's extensive appointment powers are expected to further strengthen control over state affairs. The president holds the authority to appoint the prime minister, cabinet ministers, the chair of the Board of Audit and Inspection, the prosecutor general, the director of the National Intelligence Service, the commissioner general of the National Police Agency, the commissioner of the National Tax Service, and the governor of the Bank of Korea. In addition, the president can directly appoint more than 7,000 senior officials, including vice ministers and heads of public institutions.