South Korea’s governing Democratic Party has suffered a crushing defeat in mayoral elections in the country’s two biggest cities, Seoul and Busan. Candidates from the opposition People Power Party (PPP) won both cities by big margins. Both former mayors from President Moon’s Democratic Party were accused of sexual misconduct while in office. In Busan, the incumbent resigned. Seoul’s mayor was found dead in a suspected suicide.

The vote is seen as an important barometer of public opinion ahead of a presidential election next year. The popularity of President Moon Jae-in and his party has plummeted to record lows in recent months due to sex abuse scandals, rising house prices and deepening inequality.(BBC)…[+]