South Korean PM offers to resign after big loss in parliamentary polls

Senior politicians in South Korea's ruling party have offered to resign to take responsibility for its heavy defeat in Wednesday's national assembly elections - a result that has severely weakened the country's conservative president, Yoon Suk Yeol.

- Justin McCurry

The prime minister, Han Duck-soo, tendered his resignation yesterday as the scale of the drubbing meted out to the conservative People Power party (PPP) became apparent, according to the Yonhap news agency.

Han Dong-hoon, the PPP's leader and head of the party's disastrous election campaign, resigned. "I apologise to people on behalf of our party, which fell short of receiving people's support," Han told reporters in Seoul.

Yoon said he "humbly accepted" the result and promised an overhaul.

Liberal opposition parties scored a landslide victory, dealing a resounding blow to Yoon's party but falling just short of a supermajority.

Han echoed Yoon's contrite tone, saying the government would "humbly accept" the result. "The government will reflect on state affairs to see if there have been any shortcomings in meeting their expectations, and devote even more effort to improving people's livelihoods and move forward reform tasks for the country's future," he told a cabinet meeting, according to Yonhap.