Parties gear up for by-elections amid corruption fracas

By Shin Hae-in

SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Yonhap) -- Rival parties on Thursday charged into their by-election campaigns amid a snowballing corruption scandal that could deal blows on both sides of the political divide.

Allegations have been flying for the past week that ranking government officials
and lawmakers pocketed chunks of state subsidies aimed at supporting rice
farmers, inciting the anger of local residents who will voice their opinions in
the Oct. 29 by-elections.
Although the elections are small in scale and do not include any legislative
seats, experts say they will be the first gauge of public sentiment since
President Lee Myung-bak's party was handed an embarrassing defeat in the last
local elections.
Voters in 14 precincts, mostly in the country's conservative southeastern region,
will head to the polls with two county chief seats and three provincial council
positions up for grabs. The 13-day official campaign period began Thursday.
The ruling Grand National Party, which won only 10 of 52 races during the June
by-elections, appears more determined to secure victory this time. The party has
gathered 10 candidates.
"We promise to sweat in return for your courage in developing the region," party
leader Park Hee-tae said during a campaign rally in the southeastern city of
Ulsan on Thursday.
Although the ruling party is more optimistic than it was in June, especially
since many races will take place in the southeastern districts that traditionally
support the conservative party, it is worried about President Lee's low approval
ratings.
President Lee's popularity plunged after deciding in April to resume imports of
U.S. beef. Recent polls show that his approval ratings remain in the low-20
percent range, largely due to public distrust of his economic policymakers.
He is again under criticism over his vice health minister, who first triggered
the ongoing corruption scandal by falsely claiming she farmed rice and so she
could pocket farming subsidies.
"We are observing the race with concern, aware of the cool public sentiment
toward the governing camp," an unnamed ruling party lawmaker said.
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP), which holds only 83 seats in the
299-member parliament, as opposed to its rival's 172, is hoping to capitalize on
Lee administration's unpopular policies, which many view as tailored for the
privileged and wealthy.
"We know that this will be a difficult race considering the regional sentiment,"
party spokeswoman Kim Yoo-jung said. "But we will take a shot with the belief
that the general public is with us."
Five candidates from the liberal DP will be running, as well as another eight
candidates from two minority parties.