The results of yesterday's local elections are out, and both main political parties in the nation have reason to celebrate.
In some sense, the ruling party is seen as having fared well, as it avoided a huge backlash from last month's deadly ferry disaster,... while the main opposition could find some consolation in winning the nation's most high-profile race,... that being for Seoul city mayor.
Our Park Ji-won has the details.
The elections for the 17 heads of local governments show the ruling Saenuri Party victorious
in eight regions, and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy in nine.
Although Seoul was taken by the main opposition camp, the ruling party fared well in the metropolitan area.
The party won the hotly-contested Incheon mayoral race and Korea's most heavily-populated province of Gyeonggi-do.
However, the main opposition party claimed victories in the central region,... in both Chungcheong-do provinces, the new administrative city of Sejong and Daejeon city.
Considering these regions traditionally lean more moderate-conservative, the main opposition party will be buoyed by its strong showing there.
The nation's southwest and southeast regions didn't veer from their traditional preferences, although rival party or independent candidates had strong showings in the liberal's power base of Gwangju and the southern port city of Busan.
As for Seoul, incumbent Mayor Park Won-soon from the main opposition party beat his rival Chung Mong-joon.
"This is a victory for all citizens who called for a fundamental change following the Sewol-ho ferry disaster. It's a victory for all citizens who work honestly."
"I want to thank the citizens of Seoul. I humbly accept the choice of the people. I hope Mayor Park will lead Seoul by taking on the difficult situations facing the city."
The Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do provinces were the last two provinces to confirm winners, due to very tight races.
In Gyeonggi-do,
the ruling party's Nam Kyung-pil edged to victory in the governor's race against his rival by less than one percentage point.
In Gangwon-do, incumbent governor Choi Moon-soon also scored a tight win.
During the local elections, 17 education chiefs were also elected,... 13 of which are considered progressive.
Seoul's new Education Superintendent will be Cho Hi-yeon, a liberal professor,... after beating out two strong conservative candidates.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News.
