KOREA: KOREAN ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Record ID: 347366

  • Title: KOREA: KOREAN ELECTION CAMPAIGN.
  • Date: 14th July 1960
  • Summary: 1. PAN SHOT OF CROWD AT AN ELECTION MEETING 4.5 ft 2. MS DEMOCRATIC PARTY CANDIDATE HAM KYUNG MAN SPEAKING 8 ft 3. LS CROWD 10.5 ft 4. MLS FORMER FINANCE MINISTER KIM HYUN CHOL SPEAKING 13 ft 5. MS CROWD DEMONSTRATING AGAINST KIM 15 ft 6. MLS - DO - 17 ft 7. POSTERS OF CANDIDATES 19 ft 8. MS ELECTION CANVASSERS DISTRI
  • Embargoed: 29th July 1960 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Reuters ID: LVAA8IJ8MI9ZC1M1JXB49YWTPKAY
  • Story Text: IN KOREA, AN INTENSIVE CAMPAIGN FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR 29TH JULY IS THE FULL SWING. THIS IS THE FIRST ELECTION AFTER THE DOWNFALL OF FORMER PRESIDENT SYNGMAN RHEE WHO WAS OUSTED BY POPULAR UPRISING AND RIOTS SPARKED OFF BY THE RIGGED ELECTIONS EARLIER THIS YEAR.

    ACTING PREMIER HUH CHUNG'S INTERIM GOVERNMENT HAS REVISED THE CONSTITUTION PAVING THE WAY FOR A CABINET SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE TO THE PARLIAMENT INSTEAD OF THE FORMER EXECUTIVE PATTERN WHERE ALL POWER WAS CONCENTRATED ON THE PRESIDENT.

    NOW 11 MILLION VOTERS HAVE THE CHOICE TO ELECT A NEW PARLIAMENT -- A LOWER HOUSE OF 233 SEATS AND A 58-MEMBER UPPER HOUSE.

    THERE ARE 1774 CANDIDATES VYING FOR THE HONOURS - 1560 CANDIDATES FOR THE 233 LOWER HOUSE SEATS AND 214 FOR THE UPPER HOUSE. AMONG THEM ARE 285 CANDIDATES BELONGING TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY - THE OPPOSITION PARTY WHICH WAS RUTHLESSLY PERSECUTED AND ALL BUT SMOKED OUT BY SYNGMAN RHEE AND HIS COLLEAGUES.

    IN THE RUNNING ARE ALSO 995 INDEPENDENTS, MANY OF WHOM FORMER RULING LIBERAL PARTY MEMBERS. BUT THEY DARE NOT CONTEST IN THE NAME OF THE LIBERAL PARTY WHICH IN THE MIND OF THE SOUTH KOREAN IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRUTALITY, CORRUPTION AND INEFFICIENCY OF THE RHEE REGIME.

    IN KOREA, THE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN IS CONDUCTED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF DISTRICT ELECTORAL COMMITTEES. AT MEETING SPONSORED BY THE COMMITTEES, ALL CONTESTANTS IN AREA ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SPEECHES. THERE ARE HENCE NO CAMPAIGNS UNDER THE PARTY OR INDIVIDUAL BANNERS, AND ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS DO NOT INDICATE PARTY FORTUNES.

    THERE HAVE HOWEVER BEEN REPORTS OF THE CROWDS SHOUTING DOWN FORMER LIBERAL PARTY MEN WHO ARE CONTESTING, AND AT LEAST SOME SPEAKERS HAVE THUS BEEN SILENCED. OBSERVERS SAY THAT THE HATRED TOWARDS THE LIBERAL PARTY IS SO INTENSE THAT ANYBODY ASSOCIATED WITH THE PARTY IS "PERSONA-NON-GRATA" WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

    EARLY ESTIMATES PREDICT A LARGE TURN-OVER AT THE POLLS ON 29TH AND OBSERVERS SAY THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY STANDS THE BEST CHANCE OF WINNING THE ELECTION BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE OVERTHROW OF THE SYNGMAN RHEE REGIME.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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