Text Fwd: [June 2 Election] In stunning turn, opposition parties secure significant victory in elections

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* See also:

Organizing Notes blog, June 3, 2010
VOTING, POLITICIANS, AND STACKING WOOD

Korea Report
South Korea's Local Election: “This is the people’s verdict on Lee Myung-bak’s arrogance”

[Jeju Update] Cranes Came but Withdrew. Gangjeong Villagers Keep Watching;
In June 2 Election, the Ruling Right Wing Party Was Defeated
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Hankyoreh
In stunning turn, opposition parties secure significant victory in elections
:The win has been viewed as a major referendum on Lee Myung-bak government policies
Posted on : Jun.3,2010 12:29 KST

» Ahn Hee-jung, center, main opposition Democratic Party candidate for South Chungcheong governor, stands with supporters with raised arms after securing a victory in the June 2 regional elections, June 2. 　　 In a startling victory in the June 2 regional elections, the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) won seven mayoral and gubernatorial races among 16 districts while the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) won six races. During the previous elections in 2006, the GNP secured 12 mayoral and gubernatorial posts. In 228 races for municipal government head, the DP won 91 districts while the GNP won 83 in comparison. The DP also won 21 of 25 posts for heads of municipal governments in Seoul. The GNP, who swept all 25 municipal government head posts in Seoul in 2006 secured only 4 this year. In the race for Seoul mayor, perhaps the most closely watched race of the election, GNP candidate and incumbent mayor Oh Se-hoon secured victory following a close battle in the polls. Oh narrowly defeated former Prime Minister and DP candidate Han Myeong-sook 47.4 percent to 46.9, according to posted results. In Incheon City’s mayoral race, DP candidate Song Young-gil defeated GNP incumbent Mayor Ahn Sang-soo. For the race for governor of Gyeonggi Province, GNP incumbent Governor Kim Moon-soo beat Rhyu Si-min of the minor opposition People’s Participation Party. Former aides to late President Roh Moo-hyun also each secured victories in gubernatorial races, including Ahn Hee-jung in the South Chungcheong Province, Lee Gwang-jae in Gangwon Province Kim Doo-gwan in South Gyeongsang. The elections Wednesday were held to fill around 3,800 posts including heads of provinces, cities, city councils and boards of education. This election, like others held in the midterm of an administration, has also been widely considered a midterm assessment of President Lee Myung-bak and his administration. The Lee Myung-bak government pushed to use the sinking of the Cheonan to secure a win on a drummed up national security platform, but were defeated by the opposition’s push for a judgment on administration policies and criticism of the response to the ship’s sinking. Voter turnout was estimated at 54.5 percent, signaling a 15-year high in voter participation. _________________________________________________________ * Other reference articles on June 2 Nation wide election

Hankyoreh
Voters bring wide range of sentiments to polls Among an array of issues, the Lee Myung-bak government’s response to the sinking of the Cheonan was the number one issue voters cited when casting ballots

Chosun
Voters Fire Warning Shot at Government

(* Chosun is one of the most conservative press with Joongang (owned by Samsung), and Dong-ah.)

New York Times
S. Korea’s Governing Party Surprised by Election

Washington post
President's party takes hits in South Korean midterm elections

“Recent polls had shown that most voters would take the Cheonan's sinking into consideration. They also showed that Lee's move to punish North Korea had majority support and that the president's popularity had risen from the mid-40s to just over 50 percent.
The main opposition Democratic Party, however, has accused Lee's party of manipulating news about the ship's sinking to win votes.”

(* People say the public poll itself has been manipulated by the government before election. It turned out large amount of people has denied the Lee government’s push against North Korea even though their voice was quiet)