The average age of lawmakers-elect reached 55.5 years, the oldest in history, while the number of first-termers declined, the final outcome of the 20th general election showed.
The average age for the Saenuri Party was the oldest at 56.5, followed by the People’s Party at 56.2, The Minjoo Party of Korea at 54.2 and the Justice Party at 52.3.
Most, or 54 percent, of the total were in their 50s. The youngest candidate to win was Kim Soo-min, a proportionate member of the People’s Party aged 30. The oldest is the Minjoo Party’s chief Kim Chong-in, who is 76.
A total of 132 of those elected are first-timers, making up 44 percent of the total. This was 16 short of the previous parliament where nearly half of the elected lawmakers were rookies. The ratio of first-termers had reached as high as 62.9 percent in the 17th election in 2004.
By party, the main opposition The Minjoo Party of Korea saw the most newbies, at 57, followed by the ruling Saenuri Party at 45, the People’s Party at 23 and the Justice Party at four.
Of the 300, just 51 were women. Of them, 26 were elected in constituencies while 25 were proportionate candidates. The most, or 24, represented the Minjoo Party, followed by the Saenuri Party (15), the People’s Party (nine) and the Justice Party (three).
(khnews@heraldcorp.com)
