SOUTH KOREA’S prime minister and senior presidential officials offered to resign en masse today after their ruling party suffered a crushing defeat in parliamentary elections in a huge blow to right-wing President Yoon Suk Yeol.

With most of the votes counted, the main opposition Democratic Party and its satellite party appeared to have won a combined 175 seats in the 300-member National Assembly. 

Another small liberal opposition party was expected to win 12 seats under a proportional representation system, according to South Korean media tallies.

Mr Yoon’s ruling People Power Party and its satellite party were projected to have obtained 108 seats.

The results of Wednesday’s elections mean the liberal opposition forces will prolong their control of parliament until after President Yoon completes his single five-year term in 2027. 

Prime Minister Han Duck Soo and all senior presidential advisers to Mr Yoon, except those in charge of security issues, submitted their resignations, according to Mr Yoon’s office. 

It didn’t immediately say whether President Yoon accepted their resignations.

Mr Yoon said he will “humbly uphold” the public sentiments reflected in the election outcome.

President Yoon’s critics have accused him of failing to resolve livelihood issues such as soaring prices, refusing to quickly fire some top officials implicated in scandals, and lacking efforts to communicate with opposition leaders for policy co-ordination.