(News Focus) By-election outcome dims political outlook for Lee, ruling party

SEOUL, Oct. 29 (Yonhap) -- The ruling Grand National Party's (GNP) lackluster
performance in Wednesday's parliamentary by-elections is expected to deal a blow
to President Lee Myung-bak's campaign for economic rehabilitation, political and
labor reforms, revision of an administrative city construction bill and
restoration of four major river basins, political observers forecast.

In the crucial by-elections held in five constituencies nationwide, the GNP
managed to win two, both in its traditional power base, whereas the main
opposition Democratic Party (DP) swept all three fiercely contested seats in the
Seoul metropolitan area and nearby North Chungcheong Province.
The DP's victories in the three districts close to Seoul are seen as particularly
devastating to Lee as well as to GNP chairman Chung Mong-joon and other party
leaders, who have crisscrossed the areas over the past month appealing for public
support for their economic and political reform drives.
The GNP aimed to capture at least one of the three districts in the broad
metropolitan area.
"The voters in the five districts seem to have mobilized a check-and-balance
psychology by extensively supporting opposition candidates in the by-elections,"
said one commentator. "They may have signaled their concern about the ruling
party's attempt to prevail in key parliamentary affairs on the basis of its
majority status, while President Lee's approval rating has just exceeded 50
percent."
The GNP will now control 169 seats in the 299-seat Assembly against the DP's 86
seats.
A controversial bid by the Lee administration and some GNP leaders to review a
government plan to relocate nine ministries and four major administration bodies
to the newly created Sejong City in South Chungcheong Province will also suffer a
setback due to the GNP's defeat in the adjacent North Chungcheong Province
constituency, said the political watchers.
The project to build Sejong City, about 160 km south of Seoul, was first
conceived in 2002 as a presidential campaign promise of then-ruling DP candidate
Roh Moo-hyun. The Lee administration's alleged move to downsize the Sejong
project has triggered fierce protests from Chungcheong residents.
The GNP also suffered a crushing defeat in the latest parliamentary by-elections,
held in April, losing all five contested seats.
Chung, who took over as new GNP leader in September, is likely to face persistent
calls for an early party convention and leadership change ahead of the local
elections slated for June. According to the observers, Chung had intended to use
a victory in the Seoul metropolitan area or Chungcheong province as momentum to
boost his presidential bid.
Contrary to the escalating uncertainties surrounding the GNP, the DP is likely to
take the initiative in the unfolding political affairs and issues, while its
chairman, Chung Sye-kyun, a presidential hopeful, will strengthen his political
status in and out of the party. Chung fielded one of his confidants in the Ansan
district, south of Seoul.
Chung of the DP has so far spearheaded his party's campaign against the Lee
administration over contentious issues, including the Sejong City and river
restoration projects.
Another winner within the main opposition party is former DP chairman Sohn
Hak-kyu, who supported one of his followers in the Suwon district, also south of
Seoul, throughout the campaign period.
Sohn, formerly governor of Gyeonggi Province, had virtually retired from politics
after his failure to win the DP's presidential primary two years ago. But his
supporter's victory in the Suwon district may brighten his political outlook,
watchers say.
ycm@yna.co.kr
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