Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at the finance desk of The Korea Times, focuses primarily on economic policy and government agencies, mainly covering the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the National Tax Service and the Korea Customs Service. She previously covered financial authorities, including the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service, and earlier worked on the political, city and business desks, reporting on a wide range of issues.
Independent Ahn wins by-election, two Saenuri candidates win parliamentary seats
The winners of by-elections for National Assembly seats wave in their campaign offices, Wednesday. From left are Ahn Cheol-soo elected in Nowon, Seoul; Kim Moo-sung in Yeongdo, Busan; and Lee Wan-koo in Buyeo-Cheongyang, South Chungcheong Province. / Yonhap
By Jun Ji-hye
By Jun Ji-hye
Independent candidate Ahn Cheol-soo won the Nowon district by-election in Seoul by a wide margin Wednesday, garnering 60 percent of the vote, according to the National Election Commission (NEC).
Along with Ahn, the ruling Saenuri Party’s Kim Moo-sung and Lee Wan-koo were elected to the National Assembly to represent Yeongdo, Busan, and Buyeo-Cheongyang in South Chungcheong Province, respectively, with 65.7 percent and 77 percent of votes cast.
Ahn’s successful entry into the Assembly came seven months after he entered politics with a bid to run in the presidential election last year.
“First of all, I would like to thank Nowon voters and the people. I will repay their support by making good on my promise to introduce new politics,” he said, after his victory was confirmed.
When asked whether he will launch a new political party, he said, “I have just concentrated on the election so far. I need some time to straighten out my thoughts,”
The three by-elections were seen as a crucial test of public support for the new government of President Park Geun-hye.
Following his victory against the ruling party’s Huh Joon-young who earned 32 percent of the vote, the software mogul-turned-politician is expected to stir up the political sphere again with his new and innovative perspective that made waves during the presidential poll.
“The main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) has been put on an emergency footing following Ahn’s parliamentary entry as he is a very powerful figure who could ruin the party completely,” said political analyst Lee Kang-yun.
He expects Ahn will create a new political party ahead of the next by-election scheduled for October.
“Now, there is a greater possibility that the DUP can be divided, and a significant number of party members will move to a party formed by Ahn,” he said.
He pointed out the ruling party also cannot rest under these circumstances.
“Public interest and media attention is likely to move from President Park Geun-hye’s new government for the meantime because it is as if he reignited the Ahn sensation that had somewhat faded after the presidential election,” he said.
Lee added, “If Park does not properly show her desire for political reform, she and the ruling party could lose public support.”
Kim’s entry into the Assembly will likely have an impact on dynamics within the ruling party.
“He will return to the political arena as a core figure among Park’s supporters and will likely be regarded as the de facto chairman of the party,” said Chung Goon-gi, a professor at the Journalism and Media Department of Kyonggi University.
Chung said Kim will play a role connecting Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling party as well as acting as a bridge between Park and the opposition parties as he stressed that he would strengthen communication with the opposition during his campaigning.
“In my opinion, Kim could become the Assembly speaker, and possibly run in the next presidential election,” he said.
Average voter turnout was reported at 41.3 percent after adding early and absentee voting.
By region, Buyeo-Cheongyang saw the highest turnout at 44.2 percent, while 36 percent, the lowest number, was registered in Yeongdo.
The numbers are higher than the average of 34.9 percent in previous by-elections for the Assembly since 2000, according to the NEC. The highest rate was 43.5 percent in April 2011.