South Korea’s incoming Ambassador to Iraq, Lee Jun-il, speaks to Rudaw in Erbil, on November 17, 2025. Photo: Screengrab/Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan - South Korea’s incoming Ambassador to Iraq, Lee Jun-il, has reaffirmed his country’s strong support for Iraq’s democratic process and urged the swift formation of a new, solid government.
In an interview with Rudaw, the ambassador praised the recent electoral results as “natural proof that democracy in Iraq is working well” and a source of “great benefits for all people and all participating communities.”
Iraq held its 2025 special and general legislative elections on Sunday, November 9, and Tuesday, November 11.
The country’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced the final results of the key ballot on Monday, with incumbent Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition (RDC) winning 46 seats in the 329-member legislature.
Following the announcement, the ruling Shiite Coordination Framework declared that it had formed the largest bloc in the legislature - a key step for the bloc traditionally responsible for nominating the next prime minister.
Under the Iraqi constitution, the new parliament must now convene with a two-thirds quorum of its members in a session led by the eldest legislator, who serves as acting speaker.
Parliament then elects a speaker, followed by a president through a secret ballot - requiring a two-thirds majority in the first round or a simple majority in a runoff. The largest parliamentary bloc then nominates the prime minister-designate, who is tasked by the president to form the next government.
On Sunday, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received the South Korean ambassador, where they discussed bilateral ties between Erbil, Baghdad, and Seoul.
The South Korean diplomat also met with President Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), extending congratulations on what he described as the “great success” the party achieved in the legislative elections, according to a statement from the Barzani Headquarters.
The KDP won 26 seats in the newly elected parliament.
Dilnya Rahman contributed to this report.
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