YONHAP NEWS

(2nd LD) Opposition conservative Lee Myung-bak certain to be elected president

   By Yoo Cheong-mo
SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Yonhap) -- Conservative opposition candidate Lee Myung-bak is sure to win South Korea's presidential election by a landslide on Wednesday, as voters responded to his success as a construction CEO and Seoul mayor and overlooked his possible involvement in financial fraud, major local television stations said.

   With 56.8 percent of the votes counted as of 9:57 p.m. (local time), Lee of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) secured 47 percent support, or 6.3 million votes, far ahead of his closest contender, Chung Dong-young of the pro-government United New Democratic Party (UNDP), who got 27.5 percent, or 3.69 million votes.

   The gap between the two is likely to further widen as the ballot counting proceeds.

   With the announcement of the official final tally hours away, KBS, MBC and SBS television stations, citing results of their respective prediction methods, already forecast that Lee's election as the nation's 17th president is 99 percent certain.

   "I deeply thank the people for their wholehearted support. I'll serve the people with humility," Lee said before GNP officials and his supporters at the GNP headquarters in central Seoul.

   "I'll do my utmost to rescue the South Korean economy from its crisis. I'll also work to promote harmony and integration of the divided society."
Chung already conceded defeat in a news conference held at UNDP headquarters in central Seoul.

   "I'll humbly accept the will of the people," Chung said.

   Shortly after the closing of the vote at 6 p.m., the three broadcasters forecast that Lee would be elected president with 50.3 to 51.3 percent of the vote, about 25 percentage points ahead of Chung.

   Polling experts say that considering the wide gap between the three major candidates shown in the various exit polls, the result of the government's final official tally would turn out to be similar to those of the exit poll predictions.

   Voter turnout was tallied at a record low of 62.9 percent of 37 million eligible voters, down 7.9 points from the 2002 polls and 17.8 points from the 1997 election, the National Election Commission said, attributing the general voter apathy to excessive smear campaigns over Lee's alleged involvement in a financial scandal, as well as his overwhelming lead throughout the campaign.

   Lee is to become the first South Korean president to win a majority vote amid mounting public grievances over skyrocketing property prices, widening economic polarization and rising unemployment under the presidency of liberal Roh Moo-hyun. If officially confirmed as winner, Lee will be inaugurated on Feb. 25 to replace Roh.

   Since 1987, when the direct presidential election was restored after seven years of authoritarian rule by then President Chun Doo-hwan, a series of close races between rival parties have resulted in presidential candidates winning with support of less than 50 percent.

   In the 2002 election, Roh garnered 48.9 percent of the vote, beating his rival candidate Lee Hoi-chang, who ran on the ticket of the GNP, by a margin of merely 2.5 percentage points.

   Lee Myung-bak's victory will end a decade of liberal rule, during which Roh and his predecessor Kim Dae-jung have engaged in unprecedented reconciliation with North Korea.

   GNP headquarters erupted with joy, with party Chairman Kang Jae-sup and other party leaders hugging each other in jubilation and celebration. Hundreds of Lee and GNP supporters have already gathered around the party headquarters in Yeouido in central Seoul. Hundreds of other supporters of Lee repeatedly chanted "Lee Myung-Bak!" in downtown Seoul, setting off firecrackers, cheering and dancing.

   "We deeply appreciate the nation for steadfastly supporting us in spite of stubborn negative political maneuvering by the ruling camp. Our victory demonstrated the people's mature political sense and enthusiasm toward regime change," GNP spokeswoman Na Kyung-won said.

   In contrast, the UNDP appeared deeply shocked at the crushing defeat, with its leaders and officials refusing to talk to reporters.

   ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)