By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Approval ratings of the presidential candidates topped the nation's No.1 search engine Naver's most searched keyword list last week.
In the Dec. 19 election, Lee Myung-bak of the conservative Grand National Party won a landslide victory. Lee won 47.8 percent of the vote, defeating Chung Dong-young of the liberal United New Democratic Party (UNDP) with 26.1 percent and independent Lee Hoi-chang with 15.1 percent.
The Golden Disk Award for 2007 came in second on the list. During the event held on Dec. 14 at the Olympic Park in Seoul, the boy band ``SG Wannabe'' was granted the best award in recognition of their outstanding performances in 2007. This is the second time for the band to receive the highest prize following their winning in 2005.
Coming in third was President-elect Lee. In a news conference a day after his election, Lee said the people have chosen pragmatism over ideology.
He is expected to appoint mainly business experts to his power transition committee, as part of his commitment to revive the economy, said a spokesman of Lee said.
Lee is expected to announce members of the committee on Dec. 26.
National heartthrob Kim Yu-na, 17, ranked fourth in the list. She defended her title at the World Grand Prix Final held on Dec. 15 in Turin, Italy, holding off her rival Mao Asada of Japan.
In the program, the 17-year-old showed one of her best performances baring a fall to finish second with 132.21 points, behind Mao, who had her season-best score of 132.55.
Rep. Na Kyung-won, who has served as a spokesperson for President-elect Lee, placed fifth.
She was present at a Christmas event for disabled children held on Dec. 21 at the National Assembly.
The young entrepreneur Kim Ye-jin, 23, ranked eighth on the list. She has enjoyed high popularity thanks to her favorable appearance and exceptional business skills.
Ninth was the exit poll of the presidential election.
Lee Myung-bak's approval rating stood at 50.3 percent in an exit poll released by two broadcasters, KBS and MBC, at the end of the 12-hour ballot-casting at 6 p.m. Chung Dong-young got 26 percent and Lee Hoi-chang 13.5 percent.
In another exit poll conducted by commercial TV channel SBS, Lee received 51.3 percent. An exit poll by cable news YTN put Lee's rating at 49 percent.