Ishiba on the brink of failing to win a majority of the Liberal Democratic Party...Refuse to resign.

[Anchor]
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's position has been shaken by the failure of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to win a majority in the general election.

We are in a position to worry about whether we can retain our position as prime minister in the prime minister nomination election, which will be held in a special parliamentary session next month.

Correspondent Kim Se-ho's report from Tokyo.

[Reporter]
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party won 191 seats in Japan's House of Representatives general election.

Even with the ruling New Komeito, the ruling coalition party has 215 seats, less than its majority of 233.

It has been 15 years since the former Democratic Party lost power in 2009.

Prime Minister Ishiba, who was hit politically, said he was severely judged but drew a line on his resignation.

[Shigeru Ishiba / Japanese Prime Minister: State affairs should not be stalled in the midst of strict security and economic environment]

Prime Minister Ishiba, who is in a tight spot due to the crushing defeat of the Liberal Democratic Party, will have to overcome a special parliamentary session next month.

It has to go through the prime ministerial nomination election, and if neither candidate wins a majority of the lawmakers, the top 1 and 2 candidates will have to compete in the final round.

As the Liberal Democratic Party failed to win a majority, Prime Minister Ishiba is likely to win a final vote with Noda, the leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party.

At this time, the name of the prime minister may change depending on who and how much the rest of the opposition party will push.

The Constitutional Democratic Party, which has made significant strides from 98 seats to 148 seats, plans to expand its power in cooperation with the rest of the opposition parties.

[Constitutional Democratic Party Leader Yoshihiko Noda]: At this point, as the main opposition party and the second party of the National Assembly, isn't it basic to raise your hand and ask the opposition parties to cooperate?]

Prime Minister Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party is also expected to continue intense behind-the-scenes contact to draw cooperation from minor opposition parties other than the Constitutional Democratic Party.

However, as consultations with opposition parties are expected to be difficult, it seems that several cases will have to be overcome before the special parliament crosses the wall of the prime minister's nomination election.

I'm Kim Se-ho from Tokyo.