Landslide win for Moon - poll
Massive turnout in South Korea election following graft scandal, tension with North
LEFT-LEANING former human rights lawyer Moon Jae-in won South Korea’s presidential election by a landslide yesterday, according to an exit poll, sweeping to power on a yearning for change after a tumultuous scandal. The ballot was called to choose a new president after Park Geun-hye was ousted and indicted for corruption, and took place against a backdrop of high tensions with the nuclear-armed North.
Voters were galvanised by anger over the sprawling bribery and abuse-of-power controversy that brought down Park, which catalysed frustrations over jobs and slowing growth.
They gave Moon, of the Democratic Party, who backs engagement with the North, 41.4% support, according to the joint survey by three television stations.
Conservative Hong Joon-pyo -- who dubs Moon a “pro-Pyongyang leftist” was far behind on 23.3%, with centrist Ahn Cheol-soo third on 21.8%.
The result was a great victory of great people who wanted to create a country of justice where rules and common sense prevail, Moon told cheering supporters on Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul – where vast crowds gathered for candlelit protests over several months to demand Park’s removal.
The graft scandal plunged the South into political turmoil and division, but Moon promised healing, saying: “I will be president for all South Koreans.”
On the square, freelancer Koh Eun-byul, 28, said: “I am so happy because now there is hope for some meaningful change.” National elections are public holidays in South Korea and preliminary figures showed a turnout of 77.2% – the highest for 20 years in a presidential poll.
With 40% of the vote counted, results showed Moon with a slightly smaller share than the poll forecast, but not enough to matter.
The campaign focused on the economy, with North Korea less prominent.
But after a decade of conservative rule, Moon’s victory could mean significant change in Seoul’s approach towards both Pyongyang and key ally Washington.
The 64-year-old – accused by his critics of being soft on the North -- advocates dialogue to ease tensions and to bring it to negotiations.
He is seen as favouring more independence in relations with the US, Seoul’s security guarantor with 28 500 troops in the country.
Their presence, he said during the campaign, was “important not only to our own security but also to the global strategy of the US”.
The North has carried out two nuclear tests and a series of missile launches since the start of last year in its quest to develop a missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the US mainland.
Washington has said military action is an option, sending fears of conflict spiralling.
More recently, US President Donald Trump has softened his message, saying he would be honoured to meet the North’s leader, Kim Jong-un.
Moon also says he would be willing to visit Pyongyang to meet Kim and advocates resumption of some of the inter-Korean projects shuttered by his predecessors.