A GNP Blowout

As predicted by just about everyone, except by greater margins than expected. Because the turnout was heavy, the GNP can consider this a convincing win, but I suspect it could have been the result of “negative turnout” — turnout by those voting against Uri, which has allowed South Korea to descend into chaos. The only governorship the Uri Party won was in its heartland of Cholla Puk-do. There’s no way the ruling Uri party can put a good face on this. They’re already riven by mutually hostile factions. You can stick a fork in them.

The one piece of good news is that Kim Moon Soo, a third-term member of the National Assembly, former union organizer, prisoner of conscience, and activist for human rights in North Korea, won the governorship of Kyonggi-do, the province that surrounds Seoul, convincingly. He replaces Sohn Hak-Kyu, unofficial leader of the GNP’s left faction (!), who favors trade and accomodation with the North. Sohn left that position to prepare for a presidential run, which I ardently hope he loses, as with all of the other likely candidates.