Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Election Day

Today was Election Day in Korea, which meant we had the day off. Koreans elect a new president every 5 years, and the one will take office in February.

There were 12 official candidates, but only about 2 main contenders. About a month ago, we noticed signs around town announcing the runners. In order to draw attention to the candidates, campaigners would stand on busy street corners during rush hour and do little dances. They would all wear matching outfits, and it was interesting to see.

The BBC website is reporting that Mr. Lee Myung-Bak will be named the president-elect, and that he was the winner in a landslide. The interesting thing is, that this man is accused of being involved in a scandal, and there's currently an investigation into his actions. He has promised that he will lead Korea's economy to a new level, and this is a big concern for Koreans. My friend noted that while she doesn't like him as a man, she thinks he will help Korea in the long run. All in all, it's still a unique experience for us!

A list of the candidates near our apartment. The big blank spot is where a picture of the new president-elect was (his was the only one torn down).

1 comment:

The Mohagen clan said...

hey! You've sure been busy! So, what's the deal with Cambodia??? Why and what and where and when are you doing that?

Have a very Merry Christmas!