Prior to the election, it was widely expected that the Saenuri Party would emerge victorious due to divisions in the opposition and an intensified national security climate.
Speculation had focused on whether the party would be able to attain a three-fifths majority.
In contrast to expectations, however, the Saenuri Party was delivered a decisive defeat, losing not only its majority but also its status as largest party in the Assembly.
The Democratic Party took a one-seat plurality, and the opposition outnumbered the governing party for the first time in 16 years, while the centrist People's Party also emerged as a new force in South Korean politics, holding the balance of power in the elected Assembly.
The result was seen as posing significant problems for then-President Park, who was rendered unable to press forward with her legislative agenda without opposition support.
News sources labelled Park a "lame duck" president, with the Chosun Ilbo saying that her "lame duck period has started earlier than any other administration in the past".

Eleven independents were elected, of whom seven were former Saenuri members who had been deselected by the party in the nominations process prior to the election: Yoo Seong-min, Joo Ho-young, Ahn Sang-soo, Yoon Sang-hyun, Kang Ghil-boo, Chang Je-won, and Lee Chul-gyu.
Meanwhile, a number of high-profile Saenuri figures were defeated in the constituency elections, including Oh Se-hoon, former Mayor of Seoul, who had been positioning himself for the 2017 presidential race; senior lawmaker and former presidential candidate Lee Jae-oh; and Deputy Prime Minister and former party chairman Hwang Woo-yea.
Prior to the election, it was widely expected that the Saenuri Party would emerge victorious due to divisions in the opposition and an intensified national security climate. Speculation had focused on whether the party would be able to attain a three-fifths majority. In contrast to expectations, however, the Saenuri Party was delivered a decisive defeat, losing not only its majority but also its status as largest party in the Assembly. The Democratic Party took a one-seat plurality, and the opposition outnumbered the governing party for the first time in 16 years, while the centrist People's Party also emerged as a new force in South Korean politics, holding the balance of power in the elected Assembly. The result was seen as posing significant problems for then-President Park, who was rendered unable to press forward with her legislative agenda without opposition support. News sources labelled Park a "lame duck" president, with the Chosun Ilbo saying that her "lame duck period has started earlier than any other administration in the past".
Eleven independents were elected, of whom seven were former Saenuri members who had been deselected by the party in the nominations process prior to the election: Yoo Seong-min, Joo Ho-young, Ahn Sang-soo, Yoon Sang-hyun, Kang Ghil-boo, Chang Je-won, and Lee Chul-gyu. Meanwhile, a number of high-profile Saenuri figures were defeated in the constituency elections, including Oh Se-hoon, former Mayor of Seoul, who had been positioning himself for the 2017 presidential race; senior lawmaker and former presidential candidate Lee Jae-oh; and Deputy Prime Minister and former party chairman Hwang Woo-yea.
2016 South Korean legislative election