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Park Geun-hye on course to become South Korea's first female president Park Geun-hye becomes South Korea's first female president
(about 2 hours later)
Park Geun-hye, whose father ruled South Korea with an iron fist for 18 years, is on course to become the country's first female president, after exit polls and TV networks predicted she would narrowly beat her opponent in one of the country's closest and most divisive elections for years. Park Geun-hye, whose father ruled South Korea with an iron first for 18 years, became the country's first female president on Wednesday, narrowly beating her opponent in one of the most divisive elections for years.
For a while after the polls closed on Tuesday evening, the race appeared to be too close to call, with Park's lead over Moon Jae-in, a liberal former human rights lawyer, put at just over one percentage point. With more than 70% of the votes counted, Park led with 51.6%, while her only rival, Moon Jae-in, was on 48%, according to the national election commission.
But with a third of the votes counted, South Korea's three biggest TV networks were predicting a definite, if slim, victory for Park, who appears to have overcome resentment towards her father's legacy and accusations that she is too close to the powerful chaebol conglomerates that dominate the South Korean economy. TV pictures showed Park being mobbed by flag-waving supporters outside her home in the Gangnam district of Seoul as it became clear she had fended off a late surge by Moon. She later thanked her staff before making a brief appearance in front of crowds in central Seoul. Her victory, she said, was a sign that the country's economy would recover.
Citing party officials, the Yonhap news agency said Park was preparing to make a victory speech in central Seoul on Wednesday evening, while hundreds of supporters were reportedly gathering outside her house. Moon, a leftwing former human rights lawyer from the Democratic United party, conceded defeat and congratulated Park on her victory.
With about 64% of the votes counted, Park has a 51.7% share while Moon has 47.8% according to the state-run national election commission. Park, 60, had to overcome resentment towards her privileged background and accusations that her Saenuri party was too close to the powerful chaebol conglomerates that dominate the South Korean economy. While her gender was a frequent talking point among pundits, it did not appear to have been a major influence on voters.
The election has captivated South Koreans, who turned out to vote in huge numbers despite subzero temperatures. The election commission put turnout at 75.8%, the highest in 15 years. The election has captivated South Koreans, who turned out to vote in huge numbers despite below-freezing conditions. The country's election commission put turnout at 75.8%, the highest in 15 years. Moon, who appealed more to younger voters, had stated that he needed a turnout of 77%to stand a chance of making it to the presidential Blue House.
Moon, 59, who appeals more to younger voters, had said he needed a turnout of 77% to stand a chance of making it to the presidential Blue House. Many voters were divided over Park's suitability to tackle mounting economic problems, improve welfare for a rapidly aging population and improve relations with North Korea after five years of deteriorating cross-border ties under the current hardline president, Lee Myung-bak.
Voters were divided over Park's suitability to lead the country out of its mounting economic problems, and to improve relations with North Korea. The legacy of her father, the country's longest serving dictator, continues to divide people, 33 years after his death. The legacy of her father, Park Chung-hee, continued to divide the country 33 years after his death. Older, conservative voters credit him with promoting rapid industrialisation and laying the foundations for the powerful economy of today. Others, though, have never forgotten his ruthless crackdowns against opponents, some of whom were tortured or executed, and blame him for delaying the arrival of democracy.
Older, conservative Koreans credit her father, Park Chung-hee, with South Korea's transformation into an economic powerhouse out of the ruins of the 1950-53 Korean war. Others, though, have never forgotten his ruthless crackdowns against opponents, and blame him for delaying the arrival of democracy. Moon, 59, was among the democracy activists imprisoned during Park's rule, which ended in 1979 when he was assassinated by his intelligence chief. Five years earlier, Park Geun-hye, then aged just 22, had been forced into the role of first lady after her mother, Yuk Young-soo, was killed by a North Korean assassin's bullet intended for her husband.
Moon was among the democracy activists imprisoned during Park's rule, which ended in 1979, when he was assassinated by his intelligence chief. Fond memories of her mother, South Korea's most popular first lady, and a belief that she had inherited her father's determined streak, may have given Park the vital few votes that secured her victory.
Five years earlier, Park Geun-hye, then 22, had been forced into the role of first lady after her mother, Yuk Young-soo, was killed by a North Korean assassin's bullet intended for her husband. "Park is good-hearted, calm and trustworthy," said Lee Hye-young, a 50-year-old housewife from Seoul. "And I think she would handle North Korea better. Moon would want to make too many concessions to North Korea."
Park, who has never married, will inherit a formidable array of economic problems if she takes office on 25 February. Inequality and youth unemployment have increased under the current president, Lee Myung-bak, who by law cannot seek a second term, and the economy is forecast to grow this year at its slowest pace since 2009. Park Hye-sook, a 67-year-old president of the capital, said she trusted Park. "She will save our country. Her father rescued the country."
North Korea was not a major issue in the campaign until last week, when it successfully launched a rocket and sent a satellite into orbit. North Korea did not become a major issue in the election until last week, when it successfully launched a rocket and sent a satellite into orbit.
Both candidates said they would seek greater engagement with the north, although Park urged the regime to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. Both candidates said they would seek greater engagement with the North, although Park may have benefited from her demand that the regime abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
Park, who said she had never married or had children so she could devote her life to public service, will inherit a formidable array of economic problems when she takes office on 25 February.
Inequality and youth unemployment have increased under Lee, who by law cannot seek a second term, and the economy is forecast to grow this year at its slowest pace since 2009.