Saenuri wins three out of four seats
The Saenuri Party’s Oh Shin-hwan celebrates his win in Seoul's Gwanak-B district, Wednesday. The party took the constituency for the first time in 27 years. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Main opposition empty-handed in by-elections; independent takes one
By Do Je-hae
The main opposition party has paid dearly for its factional rift, losing to an independent candidate in its stronghold of Gwangju in Wednesday's by-elections to pick four new lawmakers.
It has also lost in Gwanak B in Seoul, Incheon and Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Despite a corruption scandal implicating President Park Geun-hye's current and former aides, the ruling party has achieved its goal of taking more than two seats.
The ruling Saenuri Party won in three of the four districts. Voters cast ballots in more than 300 polling stations in Gwanak-B in Seoul; Jungwon in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province; Seogu-B in Gwangju; and Seogu/Ganghwa-B in Incheon.
Opposition-turned-independent Chun Jung-bae won in Gwangju over Cho Young-teck of the main opposition with 52.37 percent. Chun was a former justice minister during the Roh Moo-hyun administration. Cho was a distant second with 29.8 percent, resulting in a shocking defeat for the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD).
"The outcome of the election shows how much the people of Gwangju want to innovate the opposition," Chun said.
The NPAD defeat in Gwangju is seen as a sign of voter discontent over the pro-Roh faction in the party led by Chairman Moon Jae-in.
In Seongnam, Shin Sang-jin, 58, of the Saenuri Party won with 55.9 percent of the vote.
"The people of Seongnam have chosen a candidate who will work for regional development," Shin said.
Shin pledged to bring a new subway link to the city in Gyeonggi Province, and boost traditional markets for economic growth.
The toughest battlefield of Gwanak-B, the only district in Seoul involved in the election, was a tight race between Oh Shin-hwan of the Saenuri Party and Chung Tae-ho of the NPAD. Oh won with 43.89 percent.
"I am truly moved by our victory in Gwanak," said Saenuri Party Chairman Kim Moo-sung. It was the first time in 27 years that a conservative party won in the district.
In Incheon, a stronghold for the conservative camp, the Saenuri Party's Ahn Sang-soo won with 53.6 percent.
The final voter turnout reached 36 percent, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). This is 3.9 percent higher than by-elections held in July 2014.
Voters in Gwangju, a persistent stronghold for the liberal camp, were most enthusiastic about the vote, topping the turnout at 41.1 percent.
The vote is considered a crucial test for party leaders ahead of the general election in May 2016.
Kim has called on voters to support the party that has the capacity to revive the economy.
"Each vote will play a huge role in reviving the regional economy and state affairs," said Kim during a meeting with senior party leaders, Wednesday. "People in the districts that are holding by-elections today are filled with aspiration for their region's development. Our candidates have the capacity to respond to this."
Moon had called on voters to exercise their right and show their sentiment regarding the Park administration. Park?s associates have been implicated in a corruption scandal, which led to the resignation of Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo earlier this week.
A day before the elections, President Park expressed her regret in connection with the corruption scandal through her aide.
Analysts said that it worked in her favor, helping her conservative support base rally around her. But many of them admitted the 4-0 whitewash was not something they had expected. They said that it would change the political map for months to come.