Setback for S Korea's ruling party
2008-06-05 11:10
Seoul - South Korea's ruling party was mauled in its first electoral test since taking office, results showed on Thursday, reflecting voter disquiet over the economy and a damaging row over US beef imports.
President Lee Myung-Bak's conservative Grand National Party (GNP) won only one of six by-elections where it was fielding candidates for the position of local government chief.
The main opposition United Democratic Party won two, one of them in Seoul.
Of 29 local assembly seats at stake, the liberal UDP took 14 to the GNP's meagre seven, with the rest shared by splinter groups and independents.
"We humbly accept the people's will reflected at the ballot boxes," a GNP spokesperson said. "We have failed to communicate with the people and properly serve their needs."
Although small in scale, the elections were being seen as a first test at the ballot box for Lee, who took office in February two months after sweeping to a landslide victory.
Analysts say South Korea is already facing a leadership crisis after just over 100 days of Lee's presidency.
Elected on a promise to reinvigorate the sluggish economy, he has seen his ratings plummet as expectations fade of a quick turnaround.
Escalating protests over a controversial beef deal with the United States, which have brought thousands of people onto the streets, have also eaten into his popularity.
- AFP