Ruling party, presidential office shocked by election defeat

SEOUL, April 30 (Yonhap) -- The presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, appears to have been shocked by the ruling party's crushing defeat in the parliamentary by-elections on Wednesday, but its officials reacted calmly, refusing to attach any significant meaning to the election results.

Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Lee Dong-kwan, in a telephone call with Yonhap News
Agency, refused to comment on the results of the by-elections held in five
electoral districts nationwide, only saying, "The presidential office won't issue
any official comment on the by-election results."
According to the spokesman, President Lee Myung-bak watched the election on
television in his office, but didn't make any remark in particular about the
struggling ruling party candidates.
The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) failed to win any of the five contested
seats in the by-elections, amid a strong performance by independent and
opposition candidates. The main opposition Democratic Party secured one win.
Reflecting the widespread disappointment, another presidential aide conceded that
Cheong Wa Dae is somewhat embarrassed by the election defeat.
"We had expected the ruling party to win at least one seat in the by-elections.
But the party failed to win any of the five seats up for grabs. It was deeply
regrettable," a presidential aide said.
"Nevertheless, we don't give any special meaning to the election results, because
most of the five contested districts are characterized by strong regionalism," he
said.
President Lee and his political supporters at the GNP had aimed to win three of
the five seats, hoping that encouraging election results would serve as fresh
momentum to further reinvigorate the government's drive to reform the public
sector and revive the flagging economy.
President Lee's public approval ratings have remained below 40 percent over the
past months, as many of his policies are increasingly viewed as excessively
favorable to conglomerates and the rich.
As expected, the GNP leadership was deeply shocked by its defeat by an
unprecedented margin.
"We acknowledge our defeat in the by-elections," GNP spokesman Yoon Sang-hyun
said in a brief media statement.
"We'll humbly accept the will of the people displayed in the election result.
We'll look back upon what was wrong with us. Our party will regard the defeat as
encouragement from the public and further redouble efforts to revitalize the
economy," said the spokesman.
Another GNP official said party Chairman Park Hee-tae and other party leaders
left the election situation room early Wednesday evening after being enormously
disappointed at the results.
ycm@yna.co.kr
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