Rise and Fall of Heavyweights
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
More voters chose heavyweights belonging to the governing Grand National Party (GNP) over those from the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) in the National Assembly elections, according to exit polls Wednesday.
Chung Mong-joon, the youngest son of the late founder of the Hyundai Group, Chung Ju-yung, successfully won his sixth term in a row on the GNP's ticket, defeating big-name UDP candidate Chung Dong-young.
Despite an alleged recent sexual harassment scandal after he touched the cheek of a female reporter, the GNP candidate clinched victory in Dongjak, Seoul, with support of about 50 percent.
Political observers said his first win in a Seoul district will enable him to gain a firmer foothold in the party and even be elected leader after the party's convention in July.
Previously, he was elected in the southeastern industrial city of Ulsan where Hyundai Heavy Industries is located.
On the other hand, his UDP rival is expected to lose ground in the party following his failure.
Chung Dong-young, who served as chairman of the party twice, has been slammed within the UDP following his unsuccessful run in the Dec. 19 presidential election, which he lost by the largest-ever margin of 22.6 percentage points. Lee Myung-bak won the election on the GNP ticket.
Even though he heads a large faction in the party, he will likely have difficulty being elected party leader again in the party's convention this summer.
UDP Co-chairman Sohn Hak-kyu also failed to win in Seoul's Jongno district, called the ``nation's No. 1 political avenue,'' against his GNP rival Park Jin.
However, he will likely hold onto his position because the party attained its goal of winning 80 seats or more.
Even though the party failed to win 100 seats, the minimum number required to prevent a possible unilateral change of the Constitution by the President and the governing party, the UDP can make up the number by uniting with other opposition lawmakers-elect.
Park Jin, known as a foreign affairs specialist, will be able to consolidate his status within the GNP after achieving his third election victory in the district.
Meanwhile, former GNP Chairwoman Park Geun-hye garnered absolute support in the Dalseong district, Daegu.
She received about 90 percent of the votes cast, giving Park a seat at the Assembly for the fourth consecutive time.
However, it still remains to be seen whether she can grab the party leadership again. Many of her confidants and supporters left the party after not being selected to run, and the GNP has not yet guaranteed their return.
In Eunpyeong, Seoul, Moon Kook-hyun the chairman of the minor opposition Creative Korea Party (CKP) beat lawmaker and President Lee's right-hand man Lee Jae-oh with about 50 percent of the vote, likely dooming any run for the GNP party leadership.
Moon was formerly CEO of staple product maker Yuhan-Kimberly.