Opposition takes lead in by-elections

Three candidates from the main opposition Democratic Party were ahead of contenders from the ruling Grand National Party in parliamentary by-elections in five constituencies nationwide yesterday, early vote counting showed.

Two GNP candidates were maintaining leads in two of the party`s strongholds - Gangneung in Gangwon Province and Yangsan in South Gyeongsang Province.

According to the vote tally at press time, DP candidates Kim Young-hwan and Lee Chan-ryul were elected in Ansan`s Sangrok B and Suwon-Jangan in Gyeonggi Province. They garnered 41.2 percent and 49.2 percent, respectively, of the votes counted.

DP candidate Chung Beom-gu was leading his GNP contender in Jeungpyeong-Jincheon-Goesan-Eumseong in North Chungcheong Province.

GNP candidate Kwon Seon-dong was heading to victory in Gangneung in Gangwon Province and another GNP contender Park Hee-tae, former party chairman, was keeping a narrow lead over DP`s Song In-bae.



The voter turnout for the by-elections was tallied at 39 percent, slightly lower than the 40.8 percent recorded in the April 29 by-elections. Out of 864,860 eligible voters, 337,085 went to the polls to cast their ballots.

Of the 17 rounds of by-elections held since June 2000, only eight recorded a voting rate exceeding 30 percent.

Voting in Yangsan of South Gyeongsang Province recorded the highest at 43.9 percent, closely followed by Eumseong and three other cities in North Chungcheong Province at 42.9 percent and Gangneung of Gangwon Province at 40.3 percent.

The two most crucial metropolitan constituencies - Jangan in Suwon and Sangrok in Ansan - marked a comparatively low rate of 35.8 percent and 29.3 percent, respectively.

Voter turnout, particularly among those in their 30s and 40s, and last-minute swing voters were still projected to be the critical factors that could change the election results.

"I believe the participation level of the supporters for the party would determine the winner of the election," said GNP secretary general Chang Kwang-keun.

DP spokesman Woo Sang-ho agreed, adding that the main opposition party had its hopes high, with promising voter turnout as of yesterday afternoon.

The GNP has claimed it was the best option to work for constituents, while the DP said the by-elections were an opportunity for the public to judge the current administration on its wrongdoings.

Initially, both the GNP and the DP expected to take up to two to three seats. But with the projected final outcome of the election, the status of the GNP`s leadership is likely to be met with calls for an early party convention, which could also include the resignation of current GNP leader Chung Mong-joon. Other pending issues like the Constitutional Court`s decision on the unilateral passage of media-related laws, the direction of the Sejong City development project and the four-river restoration project are also expected to be impacted. (sharon@heraldm.com)







By Cho Ji-hyun