With an unprecedented number of elections scheduled around the world, 2024 has been dubbed as the "Super-Election Year." Taiwan's presidential and legislative elections already took place in January, and Russia's presidential election will be held in March. Other key elections include South Korea's 22nd National Assembly election as well as its general election in April, and the US presidential election in November. Before the end of the year, major elections will also be held in India, Mexico, and the UK. The Economist reported that over 4 billion people will be voting in 2024.

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Taiwan Presidential Election

On January 13, 2024, Taiwan conducted its presidential election, drawing significant attention from various quarters. With Taiwan's pivotal role in U.S. semiconductor production and the U.S." control over China's semiconductor exports, the election garnered interest not only domestically but also from the U.S., China, and other nations afar. Lai Ching-te, a candidate from the Democratic Progressive Party who maintains Taiwan's political independence and has pro- American tendencies, was elected. In the wake of Lai Ching-te's election, tensions between Taiwan and China are expected to further increase, with China increasing military pressure on Taiwan and expressing opposition to Taiwan's desire for independence.

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Russian Presidential Election

President Vladimir Putin will run for a fifth term in Russia's presidential election, scheduled in March. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation confirmed four candidates for this year's election: Leonid Slutsky of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia(LDPR), Vladislav Davankov of New People caucus, Nikolay Kharitonov of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin. Slutsky has led the pro-government LDPR since May 2022, and says he will "not take away President Putin's votes" in this presidential run. Ukraine was also going to hold its presidential election in March, but martial law has been declared due to the ongoing war with Russia, so whether the election will go ahead or not has not been confirmed.

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U.S. Presidential Election

The U.S. presidential election is expected to have a huge impact on world affairs, drawing widespread attention around the globe. In the U.S. presidential election, the overall popular vote is important, as is the electoral college vote. which means that in some cases, the winner of the popular vote may fail in their presidential bid if they do not secure the electoral college vote. The key contenders in 2024 are Joe Biden and Donald Trump. While opinion polls cast doubt on President Biden's chances of winning a second term, his resounding victory in the Democratic primary election positions him as the candidate to compete with Trump.

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In his bid for re-election, Trump's "Agenda 47" states that its core principle will be to prioritize American interests in all areas of national affairs, including trade, diplomacy, and defense. The impact on U.S. allies like Korea and on East Asia security overall, is likely to hinge on the result of the vote and the subsequent foreign policy of the next government.

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As many elections are scheduled this year, there are expected to be significant changes in the international arena. Elections have a critical impact not only on a country's political situation but also on diplomatic relations. Therefore, to foster security and cooperation, newly established governments will need to strive to maintain and develop stable relationships based on agreed-upon goals. The eyes of the world will be watching.

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Reporter,

Hyeonseon Namgung

namgung0121@seoultech.ac.kr

Reporter 남궁현선

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