Mr. Moon Jae-in (left) and Ms. Park Geun-hye, have a tight race for the Blue House of Korea.
Ms. Park Geun-hye, 60 years old, a member of the ruling Saenuri party, strives to become Korea’s first female president, with a commitment to economic recovery and national unity.
Her opponent is Mr. Moon Jae-in, 58 years old, from the main opposition Democratic Union party (DUP).
Korean people expressed concern over the economic situation and disgust with the corruption that current President Lee Myung-bak and his family are said to be involved in.
Both candidates pledged to change policy towards North Korea, but Mr. Moon stood out more than Ms. Park on this issue.
Pre-election polls showed that Ms. Park and Mr. Moon had a tight race for the leadership seat of Asia’s fourth largest economy and an important ally of the US in the region.
`Everything now depends on fate. I have tried my best,` candidate Moon Jae-in told reporters at a polling station in the city of Busan, southern Korea.
Ms. Park, who has been a member of parliament for 5 years, voted in Seoul and said she waited for the people’s wise choice and called on voters to `open a new era` for the country.
`I didn’t eat breakfast and go to vote. I’ve been waiting for this day for 5 years. I think it’s time for a new government,` said Kim Young-jin, a 37-year-old voter, saying he voted for Mr.
At another polling station in Seoul, voters both young and old lined up waiting to vote, braving the cold weather.
Photo of Koreans voting for president
Both Korean presidential candidates pledged to fight corruption, enhance social welfare, support small companies, and reduce the gap between rich and poor, but differed in the level of implementation.
Regarding foreign affairs, no matter who becomes president, the Blue House will have new types of relationships with North Korea, the US, China and Japan.
In addition, if Mr. Moon wins, it will be a result that reflects people’s frustration with President Lee’s administration, said Hahm Sung Deuk, an expert at Korea University in Seoul.
The race of two candidates with the notable point is that Korea may have its first female president.
Vu Ha (according to AP)
