By Kim Rahn
Candidates at constituencies where there were neck-and-neck races during Wednesday’s general election had a tense night watching the vote count until the early hours of Thursday morning.
In some regions, the results were only finalized on Thursday morning, after the last ballot box was opened and the ballots counted.
Bupyeong-A district was among these districts. Until 4 a.m. Thursday, 99.98 percent of the ballots were counted but the result remained uncertain. Moon Byeong-ho of the People’s Party was ahead of his rival Jung You-sub of the Saenuri Party by 35 votes.
But the expected result was overturned when the last box was opened, with Jung obtaining 34.24 percent of the total votes and Moon, 34.22 percent. The margin was only 26 votes.
After Moon’s camp demanded a recount, the National Election Commission (NEC) staffers started recounting some 1,400 votes. Then Moon demanded a recount of all the ballots, but the NEC refused and announced Jung’s victory, confirming the 26-vote margin.
Moon is considering asking a local court to order the preservation of the ballots and ballot boxes and is demanding a recount of all the ballots.
Chung Un-chun of the Saenuri Party in Jeonju-B district in North Jeolla Province defeated Choi Hyeong-jae of the Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) by only 111 votes.
While the first count showed a margin of 116, Choi demanded a recount and the second count also confirmed Chung’s victory.
In Wonju-A district in Gangwon Province, Kim Ki-sun of the Saenuri obtained 44 percent of the votes, slightly more than the 43.9 percent garnered by Kwon Seong-jung of the MPK. The margin was 134 votes.
Park Chan-dae of the MPK in Yeonsu-A district in Incheon gained 214 more votes than Jeong Seung-yeon of the Saenuri Party.
Namyangju-A district in Gyeonggi Province also saw a narrow-margin of victory for Cho Eung-chon of the MPK, who was former presidential secretary for civil service discipline, over Shim Jang-su of the Saenuri, with Cho obtaining 249 more votes.