South Korean Leftists Take Major Hit in Mayoral Elections
8 Apr 2021
South Korea’s ruling, left-wing Democratic Party (DP) suffered a “crushing” defeat on Wednesday in two mayoral by-elections viewed by political observers as a bellwether for the country’s presidential election next year.
“Oh Se-hoon of the main [right-wing] opposition People Power Party (PPP) defeated his rival from the DP, Park Young-sun, 57.5 percent to 39 percent to claim the Seoul mayoral seat,” according to a final vote tally released by South Korea’s National Election Commission on April 8. “The mayoral seat in Busan, the country’s second-largest city, also went to the PPP, with Park Heong-joon beating DP rival Kim Young-choon 63 percent to 34 percent.”
Oh Se-hoon, candidate of the main opposition People Power Party, holds flowers while watching televisions broadcasting the counting for the Seoul mayoral by-election at party headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, on April 8. (AP Photo)
SEOUL South Korea’s conservative opposition party has won sweeping victories in mayoral by-elections in the country’s two biggest cities, votes seen as a test of public sentiment ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Oh Se-hoon of the opposition People Power Party won 57.5 percent of the votes cast in Wednesday’s election in Seoul, the capital city, according to the final vote tally released by the National Election Commission. Park Young-sun of the ruling Democratic Party won 39.2 percent of the votes.
Hyung-Jin Kim
Members of South Korean ruling Democratic Party watch screens showing the result of exit polls of the Seoul mayoral by-election at the party headquarters Wednesday, April 7, 2021, in Seoul, South Korea. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool Photo via AP) April 08, 2021 - 2:40 AM
SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of - South Koreaâs conservative opposition party has won sweeping victories in mayoral byelections in the countryâs two biggest cities, a blow to President Moon Jae-in ahead of next yearâs presidential vote.
Oh Se-hoon of the opposition People Power Party won 57.5% of the votes cast in Wednesdayâs election in Seoul, the capital city, according to the final vote tally released by the National Election Commission. Park Young-sun of the ruling Democratic Party won 39.2% of the votes.
South Korea s opposition party wins 2 key local elections
HYUNG-JIN KIM, Associated Press
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1of12Oh Se-hoon, candidate of the main opposition People Power Party, celebrates with party members while watch monitors broadcasting the results of exit polls for the Seoul mayoral by-election at the party s headquarters Wednesday, April 7, 2021, in Seoul, South Korea. (Song Kyung-seok/Pool Photo via AP)Song Kyung-seok/APShow MoreShow Less
2of12Oh Se-hoon, candidate of the main opposition People Power Party, celebrates with party members while watch monitors broadcasting the results of exit polls for the Seoul mayoral by-election at the party s headquarters Wednesday, April 7, 2021, in Seoul, South Korea. (Song Kyung-seok/Pool Photo via AP)Song Kyung-seok/APShow MoreShow Less
2021-04-08 15:40:27 GMT2021-04-08 23:40:27(Beijing Time) Sina English
Xinhua
Staff of the Central Election Commission of South Korea counting votes in Seoul.
South Korea’s conservative opposition party has won sweeping victories in mayoral by-elections in the country’s two biggest cities, a blow to President Moon Jae-in ahead of next year’s presidential vote.
Oh Se-hoon of the opposition People Power Party won 57.5 percent of the votes cast in Wednesday’s election in Seoul, according to the final vote tally released by the National Election Commission. Park Young-sun of the ruling Democratic Party won 39.2 percent.
In the mayoral election in Busan, the country’s second-largest city, People Power Party candidate Park Heong-joon beat Democratic Party candidate Kim Young-choon by about 28 percentage points.