By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
The results of Wednesday's presidential election not only showed Lee Myung-bak's nationwide popularity but also reflected voters' strong hope for an economic upturn rather than ideological issues.
Lee, a former chief executive officer of Hyundai Engineering and Construction, won 48.7 percent or 11,492,389 votes, according to final figures released by the National Election Commission (NEC) Thursday.
Runner-up Chung Dong-young of the United New Democratic Party received 26.2 percent.
It was the biggest margin of victory in the 20-year history of democratic elections in South Korea.
Ultraconservative Lee Hoi-chang, an independent, secured 15.1 percent, followed by Moon Kook-hyun of the Create Korea Party with 5.8 percent and Kwon Young-ghil of the progressive Democratic Party with 3 percent, said the election watchdog.
The President-elect won in 13 out of 16 cities and provinces in the country, excluding the southwestern Jeolla provinces and Gwangju, which have long been considered the home turf of liberal politicians.
The former mayor of Seoul won more than 50 percent of the vote in eight of the 13 regions he prevailed in. He won the biggest support from voters in North Gyeongsang Province with 72.7 percent.
Lee swept the central Chungcheong provinces regarded swing regions over Lee Hoi-chang.
But he also received single-digit support in Gwangju and North and South Jeolla provinces, which poll experts said is a sign of lingering regionalism.
Lee Myung-bak broke the tradition that liberal candidates receive more votes in the Seoul metropolitan region.
Experts said Lee's visible achievements during his service as Seoul mayor including restoration of the Cheonggye stream and reform of bus services in Seoul were crucial for the shift.
He won 53.2 percent in Seoul, 51.8 percent in Gyeonggi Province and 49.4 percent in Incheon.
Lee also garnered more votes from young people who helped liberal-minded Roh Moo-hyun become president in the 2002 election over Lee Hoi-chang.
The voter turnout recorded a record-low of 63.1 percent. The rate is far below the 70.8 percent turnout of the 2002 election and the 80.7 percent of the 1997 election.
The NEC attributed the lowest-ever turnout to the early daunting lead of the President-elect.