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Park Won-soon's win in the Seoul mayoral election on October 27 has South Korean progressives feeling good about there prospects in the 2012 general elections (AP/Lee Jin-man photo)

With blood in the water, Korean progressives in an electoral feeding frenzy

By Andy Jackson Tue, Dec 27, 2011 11:21AM UTC View Comments

The victory by Park Won-soon, a long-time activist backed by progressive groups in a close election for mayor of Seoul last October, has gotten Korea’s left salivating at the prospect of sweeping victories in next year’s national assembly and presidential elections. With a chance to control both the Blue House and the legislature, the various...

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Moon Jae-in: Muy macho progressive prince

By Andy Jackson Sun, Jul 31, 2011 2:57AM UTC View Comments

Moon Jae-in served as paratrooper in the Korean military after serving a prison term for protesting against the Park Chung-hee dictatorship.

Moon Jae-in, the head of the Roh Moo-hyun foundation, has has been a rising star in progressive circles over the past several months and is emerging as a serious contender for the presidential nomination on a fusion ticket of progressive parties. Moon first appeared on the radar of political observers as a result of his...

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Korea: New GNP chair hopes to be Mr. Unity

By Andy Jackson Tue, Jul 05, 2011 12:30AM UTC View Comments

Hong Joon-pyo speaks at the Grand National Party convention where he was elected chairman (Yonhap News Photo)

Four-term National Assembly member Hong Joon-pyo won the election for Grand National Party chairman Monday. Hong had cast himself as someone who could heal the long-standing rift in the party between supporters of President Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, the former GNP chair who finished a close second to Lee for the party’s presidential nomination...

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Korea: Deep thoughts on last April’s by-elections

By Andy Jackson Thu, Jun 30, 2011 8:55PM UTC View Comments

Park Geun-hye has led the NFP back to the top of public opinion polls

For those who cannot get enough Korean elections*, Dr. Kim Jiyoon, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, aims to please. As the name suggests, her Analysis of the 4.27 Special Election Results and the 2012 Presidential Election serves a deep dish of data and analysis regarding last April’s by-elections and their impact on...

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Korea: The Internet doesn’t vote

By Andy Jackson Tue, Jun 28, 2011 4:08AM UTC View Comments

Rhyu Si-min is the king of Twitter among Korean politicians, but is less regal in the polls. (OhMyNews photo)

The Internet, especially social media, has changed everything, including politics. That is the message we hear all the time. It is perhaps truer for Korean in any place on Earth. Roh Moo-hyun’s narrow victory in the 2002 presidential election was attributed to his loyal following among young people who organized online in groups such as...

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