S. Korean political parties hail Obama's win as 'step toward new era'

SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korean political parties on Wednesday
congratulated Barack Obama on his U.S. election victory, saying it will open a
new era for the two countries.

"Mr. Obama's victory is a result of U.S. voters' aspiration for change and new
hope, and will be a step toward a new history of the United States and the
world," said the ruling Grand National Party in a statement. "We believe Korea
and the United States will walk toward a stronger, brighter alliance."
The conservative ruling party also pledged to work with the new U.S. leader on
overcoming the global financial crisis, the pending free trade deal between the
two countries and the denuclearization of North Korea.
Obama was elected the first African-American president of the United States on
Tuesday (U.S. time), as the world reels from a Wall Street-triggered credit
crunch of which South Korea has been one of the hardest hit.
The main opposition Democratic Party called Obama "the world's most exceptional
president."
"Mr. Obama's victory is seen as a massive change and reform that could be
compared to the unification of the two Koreas," said Choi Jae-sung, the party's
spokesman. "We see this as an end of incompetent conservatism and a step toward
new progressivism."
The ultra-progressive Democratic Labor Party said Obama's win is a "precious
chance amid a crisis," calling on the South Korean government to strengthen
cooperation with the new U.S. leader.
"We must not let this precious chance pass by," the party's spokesman Park
Sung-hup said. "The Lee Myung-bak government must work together with
President-elect Obama on revitalizing the economy and achieving peace on the
Korean Peninsula."
hayney@yna.co.kr
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