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ㆍ작성일	2012-12-19 20:38

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North Korea holds little sway in South Korea's election
韓国大選投票率７５．８％
A tight presidential race in South Korea

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
North Korea security issues don't weight heavily on South Korean voters
South Korea will elect a new president December 19
Polls show South Koreans prioritize economic issues, education ahead of N. Korea

(CNN) -- Security issues concerning North Korea have not become a major issue for South Korean voters, even after the controversial rocket launch that drew international condemnation last week.

The most pressing issues for South Koreans at the polls on Wednesday, are similar to the ones that dominated U.S. voters when they cast their ballots in November -- the economy.

Polls showed that North-South relations ranked fifth in the most salient issues to the Korean public, falling far behind job creation, economic issues and education. Less than 10% prioritized relations with Pyongyang, according to polls by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.

"Threat perception overall toward North Korea has somewhat waned," said Jong Kun Choi, an associate professor of political sciences and international studies at Yonsei University in Seoul.

After the announcement of North Korea's missile launch, about half of the respondents in a poll said they expected the rocket to have no effect in the election. "The best reading of the data suggests that the launch will not have a strong impact on the election," according to the Asan Institute's report.

"It used to be the case that a major blow from North Korea would critically affect South Korea's election. However, this may not have a major impact as it used to be, because first of all, we are so used to it," Choi said.

Steve Chung, who has examined the North Korean factor in South Korean presidential elections in the last two decades, said he observed that the regime is "less and less important" in this election compared with previous ones.

Both South Korean presidential candidates condemned the recent rocket launch led by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un."This year, the inter-Korea atmosphere is not as strong," said Chung, a PhD candidate in the department of Korean studies at the university of Sydney.

After signing an armistice agreement in 1953, the two neighbors have endured an uneasy truce separated by a demilitarized zone.

South Koreans have become used to provocation from their neighbor, said Choi.

"It's been going on for the last 20 years, despite so many sporadic skirmishes, virtually nothing has happened," he said. "Rather than people worrying about warfare, [voters] are much more worried about our welfare."

On Wednesday, Korean voters will choose between the conservative Saenuri Party's Park Geun-hye, and the left-leaning Moon Jae-in of the Democratic United Party.

If elected, Park would become the first female president of South Korea. She is the daughter of former president Park Chung-hee, who stirs mixed feelings among South Koreans. Some claim he was a dictator who stifled opposition; others credit him with overseeing a key phase of South Korea's economic development. He was shot and killed by his intelligence chief in 1979.

South Korea: The dictator's daughter Moon, who served as chief of staff to former late president Roh Moo-hyun, is a former human rights lawyer. He was jailed in the 1970s by Park's father.

Kim Jong Un's first year in power Both candidates condemned North Korea's rocket launch earlier this month. But they are expected to pursue a more conciliatory line toward North Korea than the current president Lee Myung-bak, who took an uncompromising approach to dealings with Pyongyang.

North Korea hopes to launch more rockets Park wants dialogue with North Korea, but her overall plan for engagement remains conditional, while Moon favors a transformative approach that promotes inter-Korean economic ties as an instrument for engaging North Korea comprehensively, according to Scott Snyder, a senior fellow for Korea Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

North Korea celebrates rocket launch Park's policy of engaging with North Korea may not differ much from Lee's, said Christopher Green, manager of international affairs for DailyNK, which covers North Korea. Even if Seoul was to implement a policy of unrestricted aid for North Korea, there is little guarantee that the regime would respond.

"My personal suspicion is because the North Korean government is only interested in the welfare of a very small percentage of the people that support the regime, they don't care as much as people in the outside world might think about aid," Green said.

An recent editorial published in the South Korean newspaper, Dong-a Ilbo, stated: "Both contenders seem to fantasize that inter-Korean relations will thaw if one of them takes power."

In the months leading up to South Korea's election, North Korea's propagandists have occasionally dipped into the race, targeting Park.

In September, a North Korean government website released a video of a "Gangnam Style" spoof containing Park's face stuck on a dancing figure. The video mocked Park's support for her father whose legacy still divides South Korea. Set to an upbeat 1960s big band instrumental soundtrack, the video includes images from the era of her father's rule.

Either Moon Jae-in or Park Geun-hye will be elected as South Korea's next president Wednesday.Earlier this month, Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party published seven questions for Park calling her stance on North Korea "inconsistent, ironic," according to South Korean media.
"My perspective is that North Korea doesn't care about who wins the election," said Green. "Yes they attack Park Geun-hye and do not attack Moon Jae-in, but that is rhetorical."

The bizarre North Korean actions are more for domestic consumption within its borders and for confusing the world of its intentions, he said.

By Madison Park, CNN
December 19, 2012 -- Updated 1045 GMT (1845 HKT)

South Korea to elect new president

By Madison Park, Paula Hancocks and KJ Kwon, CNN

December 19, 2012 -- Updated 1127 GMT (1927 HKT)

South Koreans cast their votes for a new president in a polling station in Seoul. Ruling Seanuri Party candidate Park Geun-hye and opposition Democratic United Party Moon Jae-in have been in a close race during the election campaign.

HIDE CAPTION

South Korea votes

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

South Koreans will elect a new president Wednesday
Park Geun-hye and Moon Jae-in vying to lead nation that is strategic Western ally
Biggest concern for many South Koreans is the economy

Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- Amid frigid temperatures, South Koreans headed to the polls to elect a new president in a nation increasingly anxious about its economy.

Voters faced a choice between a conservative and a liberal candidate, who will lead the fourth largest economy in Asia and a strategic Western ally.

Polls closed at 6 p.m. local time, leaving the nation to wait for the result.

Park Geun-hye, the 60-year-old candidate of the conservative Saenuri party, could become the first female president of South Korea.

She faces a stiff challenge from Moon Jae-in, the 59-year-old left-leaning candidate of the Democratic United Party, who has steadily gained support. Park has an edge in the polls, although the race has narrowed.

An exit poll from three major broadcasters showed Park just slightly ahead with 50.1% of the vote compared with Moon's 48.9%.

The winner of Wednesday's race will assume office in February 2013, in a country grappling with income inequality, angst over education and employment prospects for its youth, and strained relations with Pyongyang.

"I hope the next president can put what the people want and how the country can develop before the interests of their own party," said Yong Sung-hwa, who voted in the morning.

Like many other elections around the world, the economy is the number one issue for South Korean voters. Though the Asian country has fared far better than other countries, including the United States, during the economic crisis, its export-led economy has still felt the pinch.

"This country depends on the world's economy," said Jong Kun Choi, associate professor in the department of political science and international studies at Yonsei University in Seoul. "Eighty-nine percent of our GDP comes from the international trade."

The election could shape into a showdown of generations. Park enjoys broad support from the older Koreans in their 50s and 60s, while Moon has strong support from younger Koreans.

In a survey conducted by the National Election Commission, 80% of the respondents said they would vote.

Lee Myung-bak, the current president is not running for re-election, as it is prohibited by Korea's constitution. He will leave office next year dogged by low approval ratings, an impasse with North Korea, and corruption scandals involving his family and inner circle. The Korean presidency has not enjoyed a sterling reputation.

Park and Moon also bring baggage from the past.

Park is the daughter of former president Park Chung-hee, whose legacy has left the Korean public divided. Some claim he was a dictator who ignored human rights and cracked down on dissent, while others credit him with bringing South Korea to economic development. Her father's assassination in 1979 ended 16 years of rule.

The candidates, Moon Jae-in and Park Geun-hye are in a race to be South Korea's next president.

Moon is a former human rights activist who was imprisoned in the 1970s for protesting against Park's father's regime. He is also a former Special Forces commando and hold a black belt in judo. Like Park, he carries divisive associations with the past. He was chief of staff for the late President Roh Moo-hyun, who was in office from 2003 to 2008. Roh committed suicide in 2009 amid an investigation into a bribery scandal.

Throughout the campaign, Moon has portrayed himself as the down-to-earth choice, calling for welfare reform and economic democracy. Both candidates pledge reforms including engagement with North Korea, reining in the country's big conglomerates -- like Samsung and Hyundai -- support for small and medium-sized businesses and more social spending, although their proposed methods differ.

"I'm concerned about homeland security, foreign policy and the economy," said Lee Dong-hoon, a voter who cast his ballot. "Among those, the economy is the most important. We need to raise the number of the middle class."

This comes at a time of sluggish growth and increasing poverty. In October, the Bank of Korea, the nation's central bank lowered its growth forecast for next year to 2.4% from its previous prediction of 3%.

From 2006, the number of residents living in relative poverty has jumped 10%. Almost one-fifth of the population earns less than half the national average income, according to Statistics Korea, a government agency.

In the south of Seoul's posh Gangnam District, Guryong village is a shanty town filled with shacks made of wood and iron.

Nowhere in the country is the gap between rich and poor more stark than Guryong village, part of the exclusive Gangnam district of Seoul, made famous by the viral "Gangnam Style" song by rapper Psy.

Lee Ha-soong, 80, has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years. Her home is a patchwork of wood and corrugated iron, sandwiched between other improvised cabins. In heavy rain or snow, she is forced to stay with neighbors as her five-meter square home floods.

After seeing presidents come and go, Lee is unimpressed by their promises.

"Every election and every Christmas, politicians come and ask me, "How are you grandma? How can we help?" It's always the same questions. I tell them, "If you can't change anything, why are you asking such useless questions?"

Despite plans to raze the shacks and build low-income apartments for these residents, Lee is unconvinced of change.

Less than a kilometer away from her shack, high-rise apartments stretch into the sky. The cheapest apartment in these buildings is a cool $1.2 million in an area known as the Beverly Hills of Seoul.

韓国大統領選開票進む投票率７５．８％

12月19日 19時26分

５年に１度の韓国の大統領選挙は開票作業が進んでおり、韓国の公共放送ＫＢＳテレビは、予測得票率で与党のパク・クネ氏が野党のムン・ジェイン氏を僅か１ポイント差で上回っていると伝え、大接戦となっています。

韓国の大統領選挙は、初の女性大統領を目指す与党・セヌリ党のパク・クネ氏と、政権交代を訴える最大野党・民主統合党のムン・ジェイン氏との事実上２人の戦いで、午後６時に投票が締め切られ、開票作業が進んでいます。
韓国の国会から近いソウルのヨイド地区にある高校に設けられた開票所にも、投票箱が次々と運び込まれて午後６時半ごろから開票作業が始まり、担当者たちは投票用紙を１枚１枚開いて集め、集計する機械に入れていました。
選挙管理委員会によりますと、午後７時４０分現在、開票率２．１％で、与党のパク・クネ氏の得票率が５４．６％、野党のムン・ジェイン氏が４４．８％となっています。
また、韓国のＫＢＳテレビは、出口調査の結果から、パク・クネ氏の予測得票率は５０．１％、ムン・ジェイン氏は４８．９％と伝え、２人の差は僅か１ポイントと、かつてないほどの大接戦となっています。
２人の陣営の事務所では、関係者が集まってテレビの開票速報番組に見入っています。
与党のパク氏は、１９日午前中に投票したあと、「謙虚な心で国民の選択を待ちたい。賢明な国民の皆さんが韓国の新しい時代を開いてくれると信じている」と述べました。一方、野党のムン氏は投票をしたあと、「すべての力を出し尽くした。人事を尽くして天命を待ちたい」と述べました。
韓国の中央選挙管理委員会によりますと、今回の投票率は７５．８％で、これは、過去２回の大統領選挙より高く、とりわけ、接戦だった前々回・１０年前の７０．８％を上回り、有権者の関心の高さを示しています。
韓国の次の５年間を担う新しい大統領は、１９日夜遅くに決まる見通しです。

영남뉴스(ynnews.pe.kr/(sea4season@nate.com))

South Korea to elect new president

韓国大統領選開票進む 投票率７５．８％ 12月19日 19時26分

韓国大統領選開票進む投票率７５．８％

12月19日 19時26分