SOUTH KOREA: Ruling conservatives win a surprise victory in a parliamentary election, boosting leader Park Geun-hye's stature as a top presidential contender despite a liberal surge

Record ID: 523621

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: Ruling conservatives win a surprise victory in a parliamentary election, boosting leader Park Geun-hye's stature as a top presidential contender despite a liberal surge
  • Date: 13th April 2012
  • Summary: NEWSPAPERS ON STREET PEDDLING SHELF "THE KOREAN TIMES" HEADLINE READING: "RULING SAENURI REMAINS LARGEST PARTY" NEWSPAPERS SHOWING HEAD OF SOUTH KOREA'S RULING PARTY PARK GEUN-HYE'S PICTURE
  • Embargoed: 28th April 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Korea, Republic of
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA491AQX7SG5UGGZTUAWD8B13SB
  • Story Text: South Korea's ruling conservative party has clung on to a parliamentary majority, losing less seats than forecast and bolstering the presidential ambitions of its leader Park Geun-hye, the daughter of a strong-arm ruler who was assassinated.
    Despite a strong challenge from the liberal opposition and millions of disaffected young voters, the pro-business New Frontier or Saenuri Party got a wafer-thin majority of 152 seats in the 300-strong assembly, election results on Thursday (April 12) showed.
    Park Geun-hye has been credited with single-handedly rescuing an embattled party that only three months ago seemed certain to lose control of the parliament and give up the presidential office back to the liberals after a single five-year term.
    "I deeply thank people who believed in the New Frontier Party in this general election. We've been disappointing people for the past four years. I think the people gave us the last chance," said Park at a news conference on Thursday after the party's victory was confirmed.
    Analysts said people in the country voted for a party pursuing 'changes.'
    "The ruling party has tried to show people that they're struggling to be changed under the leadership of Park Geun-hye, the head of the party's emergency leadership committee. However, opposition parties only emphasized to punish the current government, but failed to persuade people that they're changed," said Kim Hyung-joon, political science professor at Kookmin University.
    Voter turnout was 54 percent, compared with 46.1 percent in the last parliamentary election four years ago which was one of the lowest voting rates ever, but short of the 60 percent or more that the left had hoped to help boost their numbers.
    Some voters who supported the conservative party hoped for a better economy.
    "I was not going to vote for the election, but I decided to trust the New Frontier Party again. I hope the party gets a power again and boost the economy well," said 22-year-old Kim Do-kyung.
    Those who supported the opposition parties blamed their lack of 'unity' and 'leadership.'
    "Personally, I'm a bit disappointed. I think opposition parties were not united enough and their leadership was poor," said 37-year-old Jung Jin-hyun.
    This win for the conservative Park sets her up as the favourite when South Korea votes in December to replace Lee, whose mandatory single term presidencynext year.
    The powerful presidency is the main prize in South Korean politics and Park will still face a tough battle to win if the left manages to find a credible contender with national appeal.
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