[Jeju Update] Cranes Came but Withdrew. Gangjeong Villagers Keep Watching; In June 2 Election, the Ruling Right Wing Party Was Defeated

* All the image source: Kim Kyung-Duk, Seogwipo Daily Newspaper, June 3, 2010

▲ 강정주민들은 선거 익일인 3일 이른 오전 공사업체들이 제주해군기지 건설 착공에 들어간다는 소식을 들은 뒤, 불안감에 밤을 꼬박 지샜다.

▲ The Gangjeong villagers, hearing the news that the construction companies would enter the ceremony to set up the naval base early in the morning of June 3, stayed overnight with anxiety.


▲ 강정 주민들이 공사 진입로를 막아 선 모습.

▲The Gangjeonmg villagers are blocking the entrance road to construction.
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* All the image source: Artist Kim in the Gangjeong village, Jeju Island

* Click the images for larger view.







* Cranes came but withdrew. One can see the sacred Hall Mt. in the back.

Upon the information that the navy and police may drive the ceremony to set up the naval base plan last night (June 2, Korean time) the Gangjeong villagers have stayed overnight around tent.

The voting result on the nationwide local election was shown in the TV and people anxiously watched the TV in the tent.

The villagers say the cranes came early dawn but withdrew. The villagers predict they would come sooner or later.

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Report on June 2 Nationwide Local election: Jeju Island

The vote-counting for the Jeju island governor was finished around 2am last night.

Woo Geun-Min who was the Island governor for four times in the past became the governor. He won over the Samsung figure Hyun Myung-Gwan (former Samsung advisor) by 2,252 votes(0.8%). Samsung is one of the construction companies of the Jeju naval base plan with Daerim, one of the aerospace companies in Korea, and one of the most vicious companies against workers. Hyun Myung-Gwan has been accused that he made the contract for the Jeju naval abse plan when he was the former advisor of Samsung C & T. Otherwise, Bruce Gagnon forwarded this article called The Really Creepy People Behind the Libertarian-Inspired Billionaire Sea Castles (Alter Net is the link). The related company is Samsung Heavy Industry. See its disgusting website.

The result

Woo Geun-Min 41.40 %

Hyun Myung-Gwan 40.55%

Koh Hee-Beom (The former Hankyoreh president, unified candidate among the opposition parties and whom the Jeju activists most supported) 19.19%

Woo Geun Min is a conservative and people never expect he would oppose the naval base plan. But at least he is not a Samsung man. He was a Democratic candidate (biggest opposition party) but robbed of the support for him from his own party because of the charge of sexual harassment when he was a governor. He has denied the charge.

It is said the vote rate of the Jeju Island was the highest in Korea this time. (65%, about 10% higher than any other ares in Korea).

In the Jeju Island Self-Governing Council (Island assembly), the Democratic party occupied more than half, wining over the ruling Grand National Party who has occupied the majority by now.

Regarding the Jeju Island assembly election, in the 24th election district where Gangjeong belongs to, the new comer (Democratic party) won over the candidate of the ruling Grand National Party.

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Report on June 2 Nationwide Local election: Main Land

According to some sites:

_ Anti Lee Myung-Bak front of the unified opposition parties made the half-victory.

_ Even though the mayor/governor positions were given to the ruling Grand National Party in Seoul, Gyunngi province, after the fierce competition, some mayor/ governor provinces including Incheon, Chungnam, Gyungnam were given to the opposition parties.

_ In the election for the Chairmen of the founding self-governing government institutions (District) in Seoul, the Democratic party occupied 21seas among 25seats. It is the big reverse compared to 4years ago when the ruling Grand National Party occupied all seats.

_ In Korea Nationwide, the Democratic Party won over the ruling Grand National Party in the election of the National Assembly.

- Analysts say the Lee government’s belligerent drive with the evil-spell of the sunken Cheoan ship drive has rather brought out the countering reverse and many young people in 20s who would be drafted if war happens were infuriated by the Lee government’ reckless drive. And they unusually voted in larger number this time. Yes. Peace is Security!