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Subject
Political developments in South Korea.
Significance
After violent street protests last month against planned labour law and textbook changes, a much smaller demonstration in Seoul on December 5 -- which police had sought to ban -- passed off peacefully. All this comes against the background of a slowing economy and the approach of a parliamentary election next April.
Impacts
Opposition weakness and division will benefit Saenuri in parliamentary elections next April.
Any progress at new inter-Korean talks tomorrow will also benefit the ruling camp.
Even if labour reforms are enacted, economic prospects in 2016 are not propitious.
A slowing Chinese economy will negatively affect South Korea, though the new FTA with China (effective December 20) will help.
Keywords:
South Korea,
AP,
East Asia,
North Korea,
politics,
legislation,
protest,
reform,
economy,
election,
labour,
party,
unions
© Oxford Analytica 2020. All rights reserved. This content contains general information about geopolitical, macroeconomic and social developments or (where stated) other matters. It does not contain advice or recommendations that may be relied on. Where links to external websites are provided, this does not indicate that Oxford Analytica or Emerald agree with, endorse or have checked for accuracy the contents of said sites.
2015
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