Result of Provincial Election

In the 3rd Provincial Election held on June 13, 2002, the Grand National Party won an overwhelming victory in at least 11 regions out of 16 cities and districts sweeping over the leaderships of metropolitan organization(광역단체장) in National Capital regions of Seoul, In-Cheon and Kyung-Gi. Therefore the Grand National Party preoccupied advantageous place for the National Election to be held in the upcoming December The disastrously defeated KDLP and the LDP are expected to fall in internal disturbance with presidential candidate winning confidence and holding the guidance division responsible for failure in election. The KLDP and the LDP are presumed to grope for a positive transformation in plan for the National Election and reorganization of political cycle. The GNP is expected to start ‘inverse reorganization of political cycle’ by pulling some members of the KLDP and the LDP that a violent upheaval in political affairs is being warned.

According to the election returns the GNP won overwhelmingly in the 3 Metropolitan areas and all the areas of Southeastern Korea including Pusan, Tae-Gu, Ulsan, Kyungbuk and Kyungnam. The GNP also won easily in Chungbuk and Kangwon. In Taecheon district, according to the present election returns of June 13th, 10 p.m. the candidate Yum Hong-cheol of the GNP is the strong candidate taking lead over candidate Hong Seon-gi of the LDP with considerable number of votes.

In the election of Cheju provincial governor, candidate Shin Ku-beom of the GNP and candidate Woo Keun-min of KLDP had a close contest until late night.

On the other hand, the KLDP has only secured advantageous 3 regions of Guangzhou, Chonbuk and Chunnam. Besides, the KLDP is having a close contest in Cheju province.

Among the LDP candidates, only candidate Shim Dae-pyeong has won in Chungnam of its 3 advantageous regions of Taejon , Chungnam and Chungbuk. In Taejon, the LDP is having a close contest with the GNP that shrinkage of party’s prestige is inevitable.

At night, the presidential candidate of the GNP said “ The election return judged on political powers confusing the affairs of state in hard times and it showed that the citizen’s mind can leave if the state affair is done incorrectly” and he said, “through election result, feeling fear and heavy duty, our party will work out great people’s reform and unification in politics”. The representative of the KLDP Han Hwa-gap said, “We humbly accept the significance citizens showed in provincial election result” and made clear announcement by saying, “ we will do our best to become the renewed KLDP”

Young-Chan Yoon yyc11@donga.com