S.Korean conservatives win big in local polls(pinkos wiped out in and around Seoul)

Reuters ^ | 06/01/06 | Jon Herskovitz

[TigerLikesRooster]

S.Korean conservatives win big in local polls By Jon Herskovitz

1 hour, 21 minutes ago

South Korea's main conservative party scored a landslide victory in local elections, official results showed on Thursday, dealing a blow to President Roh Moo-hyun and a key aide tipped as a possible successor.

The drubbing for Roh's liberal Uri Party means Roh will likely will have little power to push forward his agenda to implement new tax policy, corporate reform and rules on foreign investment for the little under two years he has left in his term, analysts said.

It also puts the main opposition and conservative Grand National Party in the driver's seat ahead of the December 2007 election for South Korea's next president.

South Korean media reported on Thursday Chung Dong-young, the leader of the Uri Party and a former cabinet member in the Roh administration, who was seen as a possible presidential contender, may resign his leadership role to take responsibility for the loss.

Uri officials were not immediately available for comment.

The main opposition Grand National Party won 12 of 16 major races for mayors and provincial governors in the election held on Wednesday, while Roh's progressive Uri Party picked up one seat, the National Election Commission reported.

The smaller Democratic Party won two of the major regional races and an independent won the final race, it said. The Grand National Party won the biggest race for the mayor of Seoul, where about one in five South Koreans live.

The drubbing for Uri in the vote for nearly 3,900 posts for mayors, governors, city councillors and regional assembly members was unlikely to affect economic and national security policies in the short run, analysts said.

But it comes on the heels of Uri suffering two major setbacks in by-elections for seats in parliament over the past year.

RESTRAINT ON REFORM

"The humiliating electoral results for the Uri Party will constrain the president's ability to implement his reform objectives, since he will be increasingly perceived as a lame duck," said Bruce Klingner, an Asia analyst for the U.S.-based Eurasia Group, in an email.

Klingner said the results could mean an eventual split for Uri with those who want to see more pragmatic policies on economic reform and foreign policy likely bolting the party, leaving behind supporters for more sweeping reforms.

Roh's popularity has steadily eroded -- with support ratings falling below 30 percent in recent polls -- on public perceptions his government has failed to boost the economy and mismanaged foreign affairs.

The Grand National Party was also riding a wave of sympathy for its leader who was slashed in the face during the campaign.

Roh, a liberal former labor lawyer who narrowly won the 2002 election, has struck an accommodating tone toward North Korea and earlier this year said he was willing to make "many concessions" and give "unconditional assistance" to Pyongyang.

He has also had his run-ins with Washington, warning the Bush administration Seoul would not support the United States taking hard-line policies toward Pyongyang.

The Grand National Party takes a tough line against its neighbor across the heavily militarised border, an hour's drive north of Seoul.

Its leaders have criticized Roh's government for not doing enough to protect human rights in North Korea and said Seoul should attach more strings to the massive aid it gives Pyongyang.

(With additional reporting by Lee Jin-joo, Jack Kim and Paul Eckert in Washington)

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ruling party did not have a single victory (out of elections for mayor or county/district chief) in Seoul and surrounding Kyonggi Province, where half of S. Korean population live.

Over all, GNP, opposition conservative party, walked away with 69% of such posts country-wide.

The above table shows the breakdown for each region and party. The first column represents GNP's wins, and the second, the ruling party's. The thrid column is for Min-ju Party, from which the ruling party split. The fourth column is for Democratic Labor Party, a hardcore leftwing party. The fifth and the six column are for a small regional party, and independents. The regions GNP posted no wins are S.W. Provinces, North and South Cholla Province, and Kwang-ju City. They are the home base of Kim Dae-jung, pro-North former president and architect of "Sunshine policy." The ruling party and Min-ju party are strong there.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Ronin]

Way to go!!!

Congratulations Korea!

Now get rid of that dopey-faced dingaling that is infesting the Blue House and relations with the US might getout of the cellar again.

[A message]

"Pinkos wiped out."

A poetic, almost musical resonance to that phrase. :-)

Good job Korean voters.

[neodad]

dealing a blow to President Roh Moo-hyun

Ruh Roh

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #3

I can't stand that twisted cowardly backstabbing "frog," either.

[Mamzelle]

What does SK corporate IT think of this probable change, if you have an opinion?

[martin_fierro]

CHOOK HAM NAE DA!

< |:)~

[winner3000]

(the leader of the Uri Party and a former cabinet member in the Roh administration may resign his leadership role to take responsibility for the loss.)

The Pinkos look like the US Democrat party except for this fact. When they experience defeat they go down in flames whereas their US counterparts seem to increase in stature to bigger their defeat and screwups (Carter, Gore...).

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #7

In general terms, they may think that business climate in S. Korea would improve, because, if the opposition takes power, they would implement more predictable economic policy and bring business-friendly environment. On the other hand, there are many IT outfits which merrily went along with Roh Moo-hyun, especially portal sites such as daum.net, and naver.com. They may have mixed feelings. Samsung may have the same feeling. Samsung collaborated with Roh's government, to save their skin. The problem is that it was proactive not reactive. There are some people in conservative circle who do not view Samsung approvingly. That is, they think that Samsung sold pinkos the rope to hang Samsung and conservatives in the end.

However, with extensive contacts Samsung established everywhere, it may think it can beat this rap, too.

[Mamzelle]

Do you think the video cafes can help Roh's party? They did the last election--probably turned the tide.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #9

The leader of Uri Party is a proto-typical empty suit. A former news anchor who turned into a politician. He makes some of most inane and stupid remarks, although he is smooth-talking. His stupid gaffe was a catalyst for opposition rebounding in last legislative election.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #11

Well, Roh is finished. The problem is that pinko coalition will create a new party and install a new figure. That creates renewed activity in Internet cafes for this new guy. However, these days, conservative oldies also penetrated Internet(they are just as active as young folks,) and those in 20~30's who are active in Internet have been burned badly by this pinko coalition. Youth employment situation is not really improving.

In my opinion, we will be seeing echo bubbles. The initial bubble was the election of Roh and rise of Uri Party. That was popped. However, there are still those who try to bring it back. They will create sporadic upswing, giving themselves renewed hope. Still those upswings would be shorter in duration and less in intensity.

We will see the last big push next year. They will certainly try but their erstwhile coalition is now demoralized and some serious split among them. Their myth is dying fast.

[Valin]

new tax policy, corporate reform and rules on foreign investment

For those of us who are not familiar with what he wants to do, could you please expand? Thanks.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #14

About GNP or Roh?

[Valin]

corporate reform and rules on foreign investment

I'm assuming he wants to raise taxes.

[PGalt]

BTTT. Thanks for posting and commenting.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #16

Roh wants to raise taxes on corporation. Actually, he wants to raise many taxes, especially sales taxes and fees. One of the reason Roh is crashing down. The guy does not realize the explosive potential of high taxes.

[MizSterious]

This sounds like very good news. Think this is the beginning of a housecleaning in SK?