The opposition seemed to be headed for triumph in yesterday’s by-elections with Democratic Party Chairman Sohn Hak-kyu leading in a high-profile National Assembly race by nearly 10 points in an exit poll.
According to YTN cable news, Sohn had received 54.2 percent of the votes in Bundang B District of Gyeonggi compared to 44.5 percent for rival Kang Jae-sup, former chairman of the ruling Grand National Party. The exit poll’s margin of error was plus or minus 1.7 percentage points.
Voter turnout in yesterday’s by-elections was the highest ever for such off-year polls - possibly reflecting an interest by young voters.
According to the National Election Commission, overall turnout was 39.4 percent for the 38 offices contested. In Bundang, turnout was 49.1 percent yesterday. Since 2000, average by-election turnout has been 32.8 percent. Turnout for the last by-elections in July was 34.1 percent.
“This by-election was perceived as a midterm evaluation of the administration, not just an exercise to fill local vacancies,” said Jaung Hoon, a political science professor at Chung-Ang University. “That probably intrigued voters.”
High-profile contests between the Grand National Party and Democratic Party pumped up voter interest. In the 38 races to fill vacancies in the National Assembly, local governments and councils, the Gangwon gubernatorial race and legislative by-elections in the Bundang B District of Gyeonggi and Gimhae B District of South Gyeongsang gained the most attention.
In Bundang, Kang fought against incumbent DP Chairman Sohn. In Gimhae, former Gyeongsang Governor and former Prime Minister-designate Kim Tae-ho battled Lee Bong-su of the People’s Participation Party, who had won the endorsement of the DP and other liberal parties.
In Gangwon, two former presidents of broadcast network MBC - Ohm Ki-young of the GNP and Choi Moon-soon of the DP - faced off against each other.
With unusually high turnout in major districts during the early-morning hours, the ruling and opposition parties showed contrasting reactions.
The Grand National Party was particularly sensitive to the high turnout in Bundang yesterday morning, worrying that young, liberal voters - more likely to support Sohn - were casting ballots on their way to work.
“A high turnout before office hours is not necessarily good for us,” a GNP official said.
But GNP’s spokesman, Ahn Hyoung-hwan, push backed on negative prospects by pointing out Lee Jae-oh’s victory in last July’s by-elections.
At the time, the media speculated that Lee would lose based on high early-morning turnout and were proved wrong.
The Democratic Party yesterday continued to encourage young voters to cast their votes.
“I thank all the voters who are heading to polling stations,” said DP floor leader Park Jie-won. “The votes of the 19-year-olds, those in their 20s, 30s and 40s are particularly important. We believe the voters, who are suffering from unemployment and inflation as well as high housing rental fees and tuitions, will make the right choice for the country’s future.”
“Participation of centrist, white-collar voters in their 40s is probably the main reason for the higher turnout,” said Kim Hyeong-jun, a political science professor at Myongji University. “Voters appeared to see this election as an opportunity to make their voices heard by the administration and the politicians.”
In Bundang B District, long queues formed at polling stations and most voters were office workers on their way to work.
By Ser Myo-ja [myoja@joongang.co.kr]
