The Korea Herald

Opposition prospects brighten for 2012 elections

Apr 28, 2011

The opposition seems to have made important progress in preparations for next year’s general and presidential elections as its candidates marked a better-than-expected performance in Wednesday’s by-elections. This round of by-elections were relatively minor, involving the replacement of three lawmakers, one provincial governor and 34 municipal or district officials. But the races were a bridge ...
Ruling party suffers crushing defeat in by-elections

Apr 28, 2011

South Korea's ruling party suffered a humiliating defeat in Wednesday's by-elections, heralding a political upheaval ahead of next year's presidential polls. In the most closely-watched contest, Sohn Hak-kyu, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), defeated Kang Jae-sup, former head of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP). Sohn's win bolstered his profile as a potential presidenti...
Opposition leader wins in crucial district election: exit poll

Apr 27, 2011

Sohn Hak-kyu, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), scored a victory in the ruling party's stronghold of Bundang, just south of Seoul, which is considered the biggest match of Wednesday's by-elections, according to an exit poll by a local TV station. Sohn's triumph, if confirmed, will boost his bid to become South Korea's next president, while dealing a blow to the Lee Myung-b...
Turnout up on fierce campaigns, big names: experts

Apr 27, 2011

High voter turnout in the by-elections was a result of all-out campaigns by the parties, which had forecast the elections would be a prelude to the general and presidential elections in 2012, experts said Wednesday. They also said the presence of political heavyweights in the races and big-name politicians extending their support for candidates got the attention of apathetic voters. According t...
Voter turnout gets by-election boost

Apr 27, 2011

Candidacy of big-name politicians raises electorate participation, officials say Voters in by-election constituencies headed to nearby polling stations on Wednesday, pulling the turnout rate up to an unprecedented level and reflecting the public’s keen interest in this year’s political races. The general voting rate in 1,353 stations in 38 constituencies nationwide as of 3 p.m. was 28.2 percent...
Opposition leader wins in crucial district election: exit poll

Apr 27, 2011

Sohn Hak-kyu, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, scored a victory in the ruling party's stronghold of Bundang, just south of Seoul, which is considered the biggest match of Wednesday's by-elections, according to an exit poll by a local TV station. If the forecast is correct, Sohn's triumph will boost his bid to become South Korea's next president, while dealing a blow to the ...
Big issues to resurface after polls

Apr 27, 2011

Diverse issues put on hold due to the by-elections, which are expected to shake up the nation’s political circles. The government plans to submit the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement to the National Assembly for ratification in early May after finishing translation checks, according to local news reports. The trade pact will likely cause a clash between the rival parties, which are already fierc...
Twitter is favored campaign tool

Apr 27, 2011

Experts voice concern over spread of false, malicious informationBy Song Sang-ho To court voters and boost their turnout for this week’s by-elections, candidates and their election campaigners have heavily resorted to Twitter, one of the most popular online social networking services. As its influence has greatly increased with the number of smart phone users having soared to 10 million, Twitte...
Lee discusses FTA with visiting U.S. secretary

Apr 27, 2011

President Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday discussed with visiting U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke how to get the pending Korea-U.S. free trade deal approved by the parliaments of both countries. The bilateral free trade agreement, first signed in 2007 and supplemented last December, is yet to be ratified by the National Assembly and the U.S. Congress. Lee’s meeting with Locke Wednesday came a ...
Political big picture hangs on by-election results

Apr 27, 2011

The futures of the ruling and opposition parties may hinge on the results of Wednesday’s by-elections, considered a preview of next year’s general and presidential races. The by-elections are relatively minor in size, involving the replacement of three lawmakers, one provincial governor and 34 municipal or district officials. The race, however, is to act as a milestone between last June’s local...
Voting begins in S. Korea for by-elections

Apr 27, 2011

Polls opened Wednesday for small yet significant parliamentary and local by-elections seen as a test for the rival parties and some of the potential presidential candidates before South Korea elects a new parliament and a new president next year. Three parliamentary seats and one gubernatorial post are on offer in the elections, with the other 34 races vying for small local government heads and ...
Parties pitch in countdown to election fight

Apr 26, 2011

Fiercest battle expected in Bundang Parties and candidates were in last-minute campaign mode Tuesday, the day before the by-elections that may set the course for next year’s general and presidential elections. A major matter of interest for all is voter turnout. In the past, the higher the turnout, the better the chances for the opposition party. In a survey on residents of by-election consti...
Seoul to receive German records on reunification

Apr 26, 2011

The Seoul government is set to receive a massive database from Berlin on the 1990 reunification of East and West Germany to prepare itself for “sudden changes” in North Korea. President Lee Myung-bak has assigned the Ministry of Unification, which he initially planned to merge into the Foreign Ministry, with two main jobs ― preparation for reunification with the North and taking care of the incr...
S. Korea, New Zealand agree to enhance defense cooperation

Apr 26, 2011

The defense chiefs of South Korea and New Zealand held talks in Seoul and agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in defense procurement, officials at the Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday. Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and his New Zealand counterpart Wayne Mapp also exchanged their views on regional security issues and agreed to improve military cooperation in other areas, officials sai...
Army keeps hold on JCS leadership

Apr 26, 2011

Army, Navy, Air Force to have two vice chiefs each under reform plan The Ministry of National Defense has decided not to introduce a system to rotate the chairmanship of the Joint Chiefs of Staff among four-star generals of the Army, Navy and Air Force, officials said Tuesday. The decision has triggered concerns among military experts who said that the military’s reform drive aimed at enhancing...