Voters go to the polls Wednesday to choose legislators representing eight districts nationwide in the by-elections viewed as another referendum on the Lee Myung-bak administration as it enters the second half of its term.

Wednesday’s elections will be choosing legislative posts left vacant due to election illegalities or resignations, including one in northern Seoul.

Though small in scale, the vote is considered a prelude to the 2012 presidential poll as it will remap the compositions of rival political forces and hold sway over the fate of the Lee government’s remaining policies.

Taking place about a month after it suffered a crushing defeat to the liberal Democratic Party, the elections are considered particularly important to Lee’s Grand National Party.

Should the conservative GNP overcome its previous election loss and win the upcoming elections, the incumbent government will increase chances of grasping power again in two years’ time. 

Grand National Party candidate Lee Jae-oh (left photo) and his contender from the  Democratic Party, Chang Sang, appeal for voter support in Seoul’s Eunpyeong district Tuesday.                                                                                       Yang Dong-chul/The Korea Herald

If victory again goes to the liberal opposition bloc, the right-leaning president will likely be forced to give up his controversial ventures, including one to restore the basins of the nation’s four major rivers, and may be seen as an early lame duck.

Results remained shadowed a day before the elections Tuesday, with the election watchdog predicting a low turnout of voters.

Although the main opposition DP is seen to be leading the race in at least four of the eight electoral districts, it fears a low voter turnout could work against its favor. A low turnout means not many younger voters, who generally support the liberal opposition party, will come to the polls.

The ruling party, meanwhile, is leading the competition in two regions, according to pre-election surveys, including Seoul’s Eunpyeong area which has the president’s key confidant running in the race.

Lee Jae-oh, a former ruling party kingpin and a loyal supporter of the president, is currently leading the competition in the northern Seoul district and is anticipated to make a successful comeback after his previous election defeat.

Lee is competing against Chang Sang, a candidate representing three liberal opposition parties.

Increasing their chances of victory shortly ahead of the elections, the DP and minority opposition parties also managed to field a single candidate for Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, a generally politically-neutral region which has former presidential secretary for economy Yoon Jin-shik running on the ruling party’s ticket.

“Voters, we ask you to help balancing out the power in the National Assembly by allowing us all eight posts,” main opposition party leader Chung Sye-kyun said in a press conference Tuesday. “Help us check the arrogant administration.”

The ruling GNP currently controls a majority of 176 seats in the 299-member unicameral house while the DP has 86.

The ruling party leader “humbly requested” just two seats.

“If you elect two to three Grand National Party candidates, the party will be encouraged to carry out policies that will make better your livelihoods and the nation’s economy,” said GNP chief Ahn Sang-soo. “We have learned our lesson in the last elections. Please give us a second chance.”

Polling stations will be opened at 6 a.m. through 8 p.m. Wednesday with the outcome revealed around midnight, the National Election Commission said.

By Shin Hae-in (hayney@heraldm.com)