Ruling party shocked by GNP's landslide in local elections

South Korea's ruling party registered shock Wednesday as an ongoing ballot count showed an overwhelming landslide victory for the main opposition party in the race to fill 3,800 seats for local government officials and councilors.

The Grand National Party (GNP) clinched at least 11 of the 16 gubernatorial and mayoral elections nationwide, while the ruling Uri Party was expected to win only one governor post, according to an exit poll conducted by local TV stations.

Although the GNP's dominance was predicted to a degree in recent opinion polls, the ruling Uri Party was shocked at the extent of its defeat.

The ruling party was further crushed by the exit poll results for the position of Seoul mayor, widely viewed as the centerpiece of the local elections. Oh Se-hoon from the GNP was leading by nearly 30 percent points over Uri rival Kang Kum-sil.

"I accept the results (of the exit poll) in the most modest manner," said Uri chief Chung Dong-young. "As the party's leader, I will take full responsibility for the results." Shortly after the exit polls were released, party officials said Chung and the rest of the steering committee are likely to offer their resignation to take responsibility for the worse-than-expected results.

Kim Geun-tae, who ran against Chung for the post of party chairman at a national convention in February, also vowed to take responsibility as an executive member of the party.

"I'm distressed. I have never been so ashamed and terrified as I feel today in all my years as a politician."

In contrast, reflecting the triumphant mood, the executive members of the GNP, including its chairwoman Park Geun-hye, encouraged each other after the exit polls were released, but remained reserved rather than boastful of their victory.

The opposition party has lost two consecutive presidential elections in the past decade.

"It is too early to be content with the exit poll results," the party's floor leader Lee Jae-oh said.

"We will enjoy our victory when the real results come out," he added.

The GNP now pins its hope on winning two more seats in the mayoral elections in Daejeon and Jeju, where its candidate were viewed as weaker than their rivals just before the elections, but are now slightly ahead.

The turnaround was apparently helped greatly by the GNP chairwoman's last-minute support campaining there after she was discharged from hospital earlier this week. Park was attacked with a utility knife on May 20 during election campaigns by a man earlier suspected to be affiliated with the ruling party. She received 60 stitches in her face.

The final results are expected to be released by the National Election Commission around 4 a.m. Thursday.

By Moon Hae-won SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap)