South Korea Votes in a Changing Region

South Korea is gearing up for parliamentary elections on April 13. In the vote, President Park Geun Hye's ruling Saenuri Party will square off against its main opposition rival, the Minjoo Party, and the internally fragmented People's Party.

The elections are in part a referendum on the economic policies of the president and her party. As such, they will set the stage for next year's presidential election. They will also be important in their own right by providing insight into lingering regional divisions, changing demographic patterns and voter apathy – national trends that could begin to change the status quo in Seoul.