By-election boost for South Korean ruling party despite ferry disaster

South Korea's ruling party celebrated yesterday after sailing through a key by-election test that increased its parliamentary majority, despite lingering public anger over the handling of April's Sewol ferry disaster.

President Park Geun-hye's Saenuri Party won 11 of an unprecedented 15 by-elections contested on Wednesday, leaving it with 158 legislators in the 300-seat National Assembly.

The results were a blow for the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), whose two co-leaders responded by tendering their resignations.

The victory will boost Park's push to restructure South Korea's export-dependent economy through economic stimulus and regulatory reform.

The NPAD, which had been hoping to see Saenuri lose its majority, won the remaining four contests, leaving it with 130 seats in the assembly.

The result was especially pleasing for Park after June 4 local elections had delivered a split vote between the ruling and opposition groups.