Addressing crowds in Seoul's central Gwanghwamun Square, Park said her win was a victory for the people.

"I will be the president of the nation who keeps pledges," she said.

"This is considered a victory for people who want to overcome crisis and revive the economy. I will never forget the will of the people who believed in me wherever I went during the election campaign.

"I will start an era of happiness in the nation."

 

 

South Korea: The dictator's daughter

 

Poverty lies in the shadow of Gangnam

 

North Korea fires long-range rocket

Seoul prepares for costly unification?

Her rival, liberal candidate Moon Jae-in of the Democratic United Party, conceded victory, according to South Korean network YTN.

South Korea's outgoing President Lee Myung-bak congratulated Park on her win, which comes at a time of rising economic anxiety for the nation.

The result has not yet been confirmed by the country's National Election Commission.

But Park was leading with 51.66% of the vote, to 47.91% for her rival Moon, with more than 94% of the vote counted, election officials said.

Read more: Pocket, not rocket, worries Koreans

The three major broadcasters in South Korea all projected a win for Park, the 60-year-old daughter of a former dictator who heads the governing conservative Saenuri party.

Read more: Ghosts of past presidents loom over South Korea's election

Park 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 North Korea.

South Korea is also a strategic Western ally and the fourth-largest economy in Asia.

"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.

As in many other elections around the world, the economy is the No. 1 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.

Read more: South Korea's election paradox

"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 appeared to be a showdown of generations. Park enjoys broad support from 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, despite frigid weather.

Lee, the outgoing president, could not run 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.

South Korean network YTN says Moon Jae-in, left, has conceded victory to Park Geun-hye.

Park and Moon also bring baggage from the past.

Park is the daughter of former President Park Chung-hee, whose legacy 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 economic development to South Korea. Her father's assassination in 1979 ended his 16 years of rule.

Moon is a former human rights activist who was imprisoned in the 1970s for protesting Park's father's regime. He is also a former special forces commando and holds 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 portrayed himself as the down-to-earth choice, calling for welfare reform and economic democracy. Both candidates pledged 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.

Read more: South Korea: A presidential election primer

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

The election 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%.

Since 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 shantytown 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 5-square-meter 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 that change will happen.

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

Park Geun-hye claims South Korea

presidential victory

パク氏当確 保守層の支持が勝因

 

12月19日 23時38分

韓国初の女性大統領になることが決まったパク・クネ氏の一番の勝因は、豊富な政治経験を前面に、安定を望む保守層や５０代以上の有権者から圧倒的な支持を集めたことがあげられます。
世論調査の支持率でほぼ一貫してリードしてきたパク氏は、国会議員を１５年務めた実績を強調し、国際的な経済危機を乗り切り、北朝鮮と向き合うためには指導者として準備が整った大統領が必要だと訴えました。
また、格差が拡大したとして批判が高まっている今のイ・ミョンバク政権に対して、与党にいながら一定の距離を置き、選挙戦に入ってからはむしろ政権を非難する姿勢を示して、支持を広げました。

父親のパク・チョンヒ元大統領が行った民主化運動の弾圧に関する評価を巡り、批判を受けて支持率が落ち込む時期もありましたが、組織力を生かした運動により、地盤である南東部のキョンサン道や安定を望む保守層、投票率の高い５０代以上の票をしっかりと固めたことが当選につながりました。
一方の野党ムン・ジェイン候補は、格差が拡大したのは、イ・ミョンバク政権の責任だと非難するとともに、「与党のパク・クネ氏も同罪だ」と攻め立て、革新勢力を結集して政権交代を実現させようと訴えました。
ただ、公示の前には、若者や無党派層から人気のある無所属のアン・チョルス氏との間で候補の一本化を目指したものの合意に至らず、アン氏が一方的に立候補を取りやめたことが否定的に受け止められ、むしろパク氏との差が広がりました。
選挙戦中盤になってアン氏の応援を受けたことで、ムン氏は最終盤になって激しい追い上げを見せましたが、パク氏を逆転することはできませんでした。
 

パク・クネ氏が当確 ＫＢＳ報道

 

12月19日 22時55分

１９日に投票が行われた韓国大統領選挙で、韓国の公共放送・ＫＢＳテレビは、与党・セヌリ党のパク・クネ氏の当選が確実になったと伝え、韓国で初めての女性大統領が誕生することになりました。
韓国の大統領選挙の投票は、開票作業が順調に進んでいます。

韓国の選挙管理委員会によりますと、午後１０時２０分現在の開票率は６５．７％で、得票率は、与党・セヌリ党のパク・クネ氏が５１．６％、最大野党・民主統合党のムン・ジェイン氏が４７．９％となっています。
韓国のＫＢＳテレビは、出口調査の結果などに基づいて、午後９時２分、「パク・クネ氏の当選が確実になった」と伝えました。
パク氏は午後１０時４０分ごろ、ソウル市内の自宅を出て、集まっていた多くの支持者と笑顔で握手を交わし、党の事務所に向かいました。
パク氏は、南部・テグ出身の６０歳。
１９６５年に日本との国交を正常化させたパク・チョンヒ元大統領の長女で、母親が死去したあとにはファーストレディーの役割を務めたことでも知られています。
選挙戦では、政党の代表に就任した経歴を含め、１５年にわたる豊富な政治経験をアピールしました。
最大の争点となった経済問題では、利益が集中し、格差が広がった原因だと指摘される大企業に対する規制について、必要とするものの自由な経済活動を尊重するため、最小限に抑えるべきだという立場を取りました。
また、北朝鮮との関係については、対話を再開する前に、まずは信頼関係を構築すべきだとしているほか、日韓関係については改善させたいとする一方、「何よりも日本が正しい歴史認識を持つべきだ」と述べ、日本側が態度を改め、前向きな対応を取る必要があるとしていました。
韓国で女性の大統領が誕生するのは、初めてです。