South Korea's main opposition party swept Wednesday's parliamentary by-elections, which are viewed as a litmus test of voter sentiment ahead of next year's presidential elections.
The conservative Grand National Party (GNP) won three of the four parliamentary elections, while the small opposition Democratic Party won the final race, according to the final election results posted on the Web site of the National Election Commission.
President Roh Moo-hyun's Uri Party failed to win any of the four electoral districts, which analysts say will further erode its sagging popularity amid the slumping economy and rising regional tension over North Korea.
The electoral outcome, however, would not change the balance of power in the 299-member single-chamber parliament. The number of the GNP's seats is to increase to 126, while the Uri Party has 142 seats.
According to the latest public survey conducted after North Korea tested a series of missiles on July 5, Roh's approval ratings have plunged to a record 17 percent.
In May's mayoral and gubernatorial elections, Roh's Uri Party suffered crushing defeats at the hands of the GNP, which swept 12 of the 16 key races. The Uri Party won only one post and top party leaders later resigned en masse.
The GNP, which has advocated a harder line on North Korea, has accused Roh's liberal-leaning government of pampering the North with too much aid.
The North's missile test bolstered the GNP's stance, while the Roh government is arguing with the United States and Japan over how to deal with the communist state.
The Roh government and the GNP have also been at odds over how to transform South Korea's half-century alliance with the U.S. The Roh government has sought a more equal footing in relation to Washington, while the GNP has called for a strengthened alliance, citing a persistent threat from North Korea.
On the economy, the Roh government has sought to reform the family-owned conglomerates, or chaebol, to achieve a greater redistribution of wealth. The GNP has taken a pro-business stance.
Earlier opinion surveys have shown that two GNP members -- former party leader Park Geun-hye and former Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak -- and former Prime Minister Goh Kun, an independent runner, are ahead of the other potential candidates running for the December 2007 polls. All presidential hopefuls from the Uri Party lagged behind the three front-runners by more than 10 percentage points, according to the surveys.
President Roh's single five-year term ends in early 2008, but he is barred by law from seeking a re-election.
Voter turnout hit a record low of 26.4 percent due to mounting public apathy toward politics.
Seoul, July 26 (Yonhap News)
Opposition party sweeps parliamentary by-elections: election returns |
