News

Lee wins South Korea's election, BBC (2007)

This is an article about the conservative candidate Lee Myung-bak winning a landslide victory in South Korea's presidential election

Economy Key in South Korea Election, The New York Times (2007)

An article about the forthcoming elections in the Republic of Korea

South Korea: Opposition Collect Three out of Five Parliament Seats for Grabs in October 28 By-Elections, The Seoul Times (2009)

Three candidates from the main opposition Democratic Party won the fiercely-contested constituencies in the October 28 by-elections.

Huge numbers of overseas Koreans eligible to vote, Joong Ang Daily (2009)

After the National Assembly passed a bill allowing Koreans residing overseas to vote in general, presidential and regional elections, it is now estimated that tens of thousands of Korean voters are likely to cast their ballots especially from major US cities such as Los Angeles.

Legislation sought to allow Koreans overseas to vote by mail, The Korea Times (2010)

After passing a bill last year enabling Koreans overseas to vote, the ruling Grand National Party is now seeking to pass a law that would allow the overseas Koreans to vote by mail while increasing the number of overseas polling stations. This measure should make the polling procedures for Koreans overseas easier, so that they would not have to travel to one of the currently existing 166 diplomatic centres recognized as polling stations. The new law should be passed as soon as possible, so that all changes are in place for the 2012 general elections.

South Korea: One hundred day countdown to regional elections, The Hankyoureh (2010)

The Grand National Property (GNP) says it plans to focus strategy on the economy while the DP is calling for a judgment on the Lee administration’s growing estrangement with the people.

South Korea: Election Law Violators Reach 1,387, Korea Times (2010)

The number of election law breakers in 2010 has reached 1,387, as the June 2 local elections approach, the Ministry of Public Administration and Security reported Friday. The figure is based on MOPAS's joint crackdown with the National Police Agency against campaign violators. It was carried out from January 1 to April 7.

Police continue crackdowns on regional election events, The Hankyoureh (2010)

Amid the campaign season for the June 2 regional elections, regional election commissions and police have prohibited or forcibly dispersed events.

South Korea:Local Election Race Begins in Full Swing, KBS World (2010)

This article focuses on parties launching their central election committees as local election race begins.

South Korea:Candidates to Register for Local Elections This Week, KBS World (2010)

This article discusses the candidate registration for the upcoming local elections on June 2nd.

South Korea: Barred from local elections, Korea Times (2010)

The National Election Commission declared Kim Jong-il illegible to run for re-election as the Governor of the Rebel-Held Territories (RHT). This decision created some political turmoil in the region.

Elections loom in South Korea, Asia Sentinel (2010)

On June 2, South Korea will hold elections. Citizens will elect mayors, governors and council members. In the past months the Democratic Party was able to gain percentage points over the Grand National Party, but after North Korea’s security threats everything changed.

South Korea: Migrants ready to launch election alliance, Korea Times (2010)

This article discusses the creation of the Migrant Voters Alliance. This Alliance will raise awareness among immigrants about their right to vote in the upcoming election in Korea. In the June 2 elections there will be other innovations too: for the first time Korean citizens living abroad will be able to vote in the local elections.

South Korea, a wary eye on the North, goes to polls, Reuters (2010)

This article reports about the upcoming regional elections in South Korea. International affairs, and especially the recent diplomatic accident with North Korea, will play a big role in determining the outcomes.

South Korea: Voting still too hard for disabled, Korea Times (2010)

This article reports on the "2010 Local Elections Disabled Alliance" Conference. This advocacy group argues that it is still too difficult for disabled people to reach the polling stations in Korea. According to this Alliance, currently ten percent of the population cannot exercise their right to vote because of their disabilities.

[···]

 

South Korean ruling party likely to fare well in local elections, The Wall Street Journal (2010)

This article discusses the main issues in the electoral campaign in South Korea. On Wednesday, the South Korean people will vote for local elections. According to the latest polls, the ruling Grand National Party will still gain the majority of the votes.

South Korea's president faces poll test over leadership, BBC News (2010)

This article reports on the local elections in South Korea. The opposition Democratic Party is accusing the President to exploit the diplomatic accident with North Korea to his party's advantage.

South Korea: Low voter turnout could hurt legitimacy of local elections, Korea Times (2010)

This article discusses the voter turnout in South Korea's local elections. The expected voter turnout is one of the lowest in the country's history. Experts believe that this is caused by the candidates' tendency to present similar programs and to avoid discussions over matter that are important to local communities.

South Korea: Election fines drop by 71.7 percent, Korea Times (2010)

The Korean authorities presented a report about the election fines in the last June 2nd elections. The total amount of fines, mostly attributed for bribery or other violations of the electoral law, diminished radically compared to the last 2006 elections.

South Korea: Foreign-natives cast ballots nationwide, Korea Times (2010)

This article presents the latest reports from the June 2 elections in Korea. The number of naturalized Koreans and foreigners voting in these elections doubled since the last 2006 local elections.

South Korea opposition puts up fight in polls, Reuters (2010)

This article reports on the new strategy of the Democratic Party in the current elections in South Korea. In recent polls the ruling Grand National Party seemed to be the likely winner, but the electoral race is still open.

Setback for South Korea's president in local elections, BBC News (2010)

This article presents the latest updates from the June 2 local elections in South Korea. The president's party, the Grand National Party, might have lost percentage points over the opposition party, the Democratic one.

South Korea opposition party gains ground, The Wall Street Journal (2010)

This article reports on the vote counting procedures in South Korea. The opposition Democratic Party seems to be gaining the voters' support.

South Korea ruling party chief quits after poll losses, Reuters (2010)

This article reports on the resignations of the leader of the ruling Grand National Party. Unexpectedly, the Democratic Party won in the major cities and provinces.

Election result a surprise to many South Koreans, Channel News Asia (2010)

This article discusses the latest results in the South Korean local elections.The ruling Grand National Party gained only six of the 16 posts for provincial governors and city mayors, leaving many observers surprised.

N. Korea calls S. Korean election outcome 'punishment' on ruling gov't, Yonhap News Agency (2010)

Commenting on South Korea's local elections that ended in an upset victory for the opposition, North Korea called them "firm punishment" on President Lee Myung-bak's government, as the sides sizzle in enmity over the sinking of a South Korean warship.

President's party takes hits in South Korean midterm elections, The Washington Post (2010)

Candidates supporting President Lee Myung-bak, who has worked closely with the Obama administration in responding to the ship's sinking, won six out of 16 races for metropolitan mayor and provincial governor, according to the National Election Commission.

S. Korean president signals cabinet shakeup after election debacle,Xinhua News Agency (2010)

Following poor election results South Korean president Lee Myung-bak indicated that he will shakeup the cabinet. Some media is reporting that this will come before the July 28 by-elections.

South Korea: 48 civil servants face discipline for election campaign, Korea Times (2010)

This article reports on the Ministry of Public Administration and Security's decision to demand action against 48 public officials engaged in illegal campaign activities during the June 2 elections. The accused government official participated in the campaigning, violating the Civil Servant Law.

Candidate registration for by-election begins in S. Korea, Xinhua News (2010)

This article reports on the preparations for the July 28 by-elections in South Korea. Candidate registration began today, July 13. The governing Grand National Party lost some of the key mayoral and gubernatorial offices in last month's local elections, and it is determined to win the upcoming polls.

South Korea: By-election campaigns start, Korea Times (2010)

This article reports on the campaign for the July 28 National Assembly by-elections in South Korea. It will be a very important election for the government: on the June 2 local elections the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) had significant losses. The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) aims at winning 5 of the 8 districts/seats.

South Korea: Lee's confidant elected ruling party leader, The Korea Times

This article reports on the election of Ahn Sang-soo as leader of the ruling Grand National Party. Ahn Sang-soo, close confident of President Lee Myung-bak, will lead the party for the next two years. After the defeat in the June 2 local polls, the Grand National Party looks forward to the 2012 National Assembly elections.

South Korea: Candidates kick off by-election campaign, The Korea Herald (2010)

This article reports on the beginning of the campaign for the by-elections in South Korea. Candidates started their campaigns for the eight parliamentary seats at stake. The ruling Grand National Party's stability depends on the results of these by-elections, especially after the defeat in the June 2 local elections.

South Korea: Opposition unified to defeat President's confidants, The Korea Times (2010)

This article reports on the campaign for the by-elections in South Korea, due on July 28. In two key constituencies in particular (out of 8), opposition parties are putting a lot of pressure on the government party. The latest opinion polls showed that the ruling Grand National Party may suffer defeats.

South Korea: Parliamentary by-elections take place today in 8 districts, The Korea Times

This article reports on the by-elections in South Korea. 8 Parliamentary seats are at stake in today's elections (July 27). Currently, the conservative Grand National Party holds 175 seats, while the Democratic Party has 84. The next National Assembly and presidential elections are scheduled for 2012.

South Korea holds parliamentary by-elections, Xinhua (2010)

This article reports on the latest updates for the Wednesday by-elections in South Korea. These polls will be a 'barometer' of the voters' feelings towards the government's work so far. As a matter of fact, the ruling Grand National Party already suffered a bitter defeat in the June 2 local elections.

South Korea's ruling party wins five seats in by-elections, Bloomberg Businessweek (2010)

This article reports on the first results of the by-elections in South Korea. The ruling Grand National Party won five of the eight seats at stake. President Lee Myung Bak can now rely on a stable majority in the National Assembly (172 seats out of 299).

South Korea: Ruling party sweeps by-elections, Korea Times (2010)

This article discusses the results of the by-elections in South Korea. The ruling Grand National Party successfully won the majority of the seats at stake (5 out of 8). As expected the voter turnout was low (34%), but higher than in previous by-elections (in 2006, only 24% of the voters had cast a ballot).

South Korea: Return of the President's man, Korea Times (2010)

This article comments the results of this week by-elections in South Korea. The ruling Grand National Party unexpectedly won the majority of the contested seats, five out of eight. A close confidant of President Lee Myung-bak was elected in one of the district as well: he will probably be a key figure in the National Assembly and in the Party, reconciling the older and younger pro-President factions.

South Korea: Opposition's chances for 2012, The Korea Times (2010)

This article discusses the political campaign for the 2012 elections in South Korea. The opposition Democratic Party (DP) will elect the new leader in September. In the June 2 local elections the DP was more successful than the ruling Grand National Party (GNP), but in the July 28 by-elections voters supported the latter instead. The upcoming presidential elections will be a big test for the two parties.

[···]