Polls test South Korea mood after ferry disaster

5 June 2014

Lee Wan-goo, floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, and Suh Chung-won, Chairman of the Party's campaign, wipe the sweat off their faces as they watch a television program broadcasting the election exit polls in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday, 4 June, 2014 — Image caption,
Ruling party officials were relieved at the result

South Korea's ruling conservative party has made a strong showing in local elections despite criticism over its handling of the recent ferry disaster.

President Park Geun-hye's Saenuri party won eight of 17 main contests for city mayors and provincial governors.

The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) party won the remaining nine races that included the Seoul mayor.

Voters also elected other mayors, county officials and council members.

The ruling Saenuri Party staked its campaign on Ms Park's pledge to reform government bureaucracy and improve safety oversight following the ferry disaster in April.

"The Korea after the Sewol ferry disaster must be different from the Korea before the disaster," said senior party official Lee Wan-koo. "We need to reform and create a safe country."

The local polls were presented by media and politicians as a referendum on the party and its handling of the ferry disaster, says the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Seoul.

Analysts said Ms Park's party would have done much better if the disaster had not happened.

Park Won-soon, candidate for the mayor of Seoul from main opposition party New Politics Alliance for Democracy, celebrates his victory at his campaign office in Seoul on 5 June, 2014

Reuters

Park Won-Soon retained his title as mayor of Seoul, a position seen by many as a stepping stone to the presidency

South Koreans cast their votes in a polling station on 4 June 2014 in Seoul, South Korea

Getty Images

South Koreans elected mayors, provincial governors and local officials

In this 16 April 2014 file photo, South Korean coast guard officers try to rescue passengers from the Sewol ferry as it sinks in the water off the southern coast near Jindo, south of Seoul, South Korea

Out of the 476 people on the South Korean ferry, only 172 survived

The local elections are held every four years, with almost 4,000 municipal posts contested.

The poll - though it has no impact on national politics - is being watched for signs of real political fall-out, our correspondent adds.

Entrenched regional voting patterns however are likely to forestall any major shift in South Korean politics.

President Park Geun-hye's popularity has fallen sharply since the April sinking, which left more than 300 people - mostly school children - dead.

Ms Park has already apologised for the disaster and promised reforms, but anger at alleged mismanagement by the rescue services and the ferry company has seen her approval ratings drop below 50%.

The incident has sparked anger over perceived incompetence and negligence.

The Sewol ferry, carrying 476 people, sank on 16 April off the south coast of South Korea.

Investigators say it was overloaded, while both the crew and coast guard have come under fire for their failure to rescue more passengers.

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