 In Jae-geun, the widow of pro-democracy activist and politician Kim Geun-tae, celebrates after confirming her victory in the National Assembly elections at her campaign office in Dobong, Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap |
By Lee Tae-hoonElections, like life, are full of ups and downs. In Jae-geun, the widow of pro-democracy activist and politician Kim Geun-tae, clinched a parliamentary seat despite the fact that her late husband failed to do so in 2008.
The candidate of the Democratic United Party (DUP) won her race in Seoul’s Dobong-A district against Yoo Kyung-hee, a candidate of the ruling Saenuri Party, by double digits.
Ahn Cheol-soo, software mogul and strong presidential candidate, expressed his strong support for the political novice, saying he “wishes a bright future for Dobong in line with In’s strong and courageous character.”
Rep. Chung Mong-joon, former leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, held his breath when an exit poll by public broadcaster KBS predicted he would garner 47.9 percent of the vote, only 0.7 percentage points higher than his rival Lee Kye-ahn.
It was a back-and-forth race until the nearly half the votes were counted. However, Chung, a billionaire scion of the Hyundai dynasty, rebounded as the night went on, nudging out Lee, a classmate in Seoul National University.
Both Chung and Lee entered Hyundai Heavy Industries in 1975.
Chung, a six-term lawmaker and a presidential hopeful of the conservative party, pledged to establish the necessary infrastructure and launch an urban development research institute in the Dongjak-B constituency, Seoul.
Former Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon, who took full responsibility in the renegotiation of the free trade agreement (KORUS FTA) with the United States, defeated Rep. Chung Dong-young, who led the opposition bloc’s move to nullify the bilateral pack.
Voters in southern Seoul’s Gangnam B district apparently favored the former chief negotiator of the KORUS FTA over Chung.
Rep. Chung Sye-kyun, a fourth-term lawmaker of the DUP, also clinched a dramatic victory over Saenuri’s six-term lawmaker Hong Sa-duk.
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