South Koreans vote for new president to succeed impeached Park
9 May 2017 2:46 PM IST9 May 2017 2:46 PM IST
South Korea had been left 'adrift' by the 'acute division and lack of national leadership' after Park's scandal and her impeachment.
South Koreans went to the polls on Tuesday to choose a new president after Park Geun-Hye was ousted and indicted for corruption, against a backdrop of high tensions with the nuclear-armed North. (Photo: AFP)- Moon, Ahn and other candidates have promised to reform the chaebols (South Korean form of business conglomerate), which dominate the economy and have long been criticised for operating with little scrutiny. (Photo: AP)
- But for many South Korean voters, corruption, slowing growth, unemployment and even air pollution from China top the list of concerns. South Korea's rapid growth from the 1970s to 1990s pulled a war-ravaged nation out of poverty but slowed as the economy matured, and unemployment among under-30s is now at a record 10 percent. (Photo: AP)
- The campaign has focused largely on the economy, with North Korea less prominent, but after a decade of conservative rule a Moon victory could mean a sea change in Seoul's approach towards both Pyongyang and key ally Washington. (Photo: AP)
- The polls have shown Hong and centrist Ahn Cheol-soo running even with a final Gallup Korea survey showing 20 percent support.
- Conservatives worry that a victory by Moon Jae-in might benefit North Korea and estrange South Korea and its most important ally, the United States. (Photo: AP)
- Voters have been galvanised by anger over the sprawling bribery and abuse-of-power scandal that brought down Park, which catalysed frustrations over jobs and slowing growth. (Photo: AP)
South Koreans went to the polls on Tuesday to choose a new president after Park Geun-Hye was ousted and indicted for corruption, against a backdrop of high tensions with the nuclear-armed North. (Photo: AFP)
South Korea had been left 'adrift' by the 'acute division and lack of national leadership' after Park's scandal and her impeachment.
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