Troll_Bait
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: [T]eaching experience doesn't matter much. -Lee Young-chan (pictured)
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 Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:00 pm Post subject: "Canada is less annoying." Whoo! Whoo! |
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http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2007/12/19/200712190026.asp
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The election this year is not as interesting as the ones before because there isnt much suspense about who will win, says Mark Baayen, an American living in Seoul. The excitement faded as soon as the Grand National Party chose Lee Myung-bak as their candidate.
This is the third time Baayen has witnessed a presidential election in Korea. The first was 10 years ago, when the establishment that had ruled the country for decades eventually lost power.
The election of 1997 was much more exciting. I was living in Daejeon during that awful winter just after the economic collapse began.
As a foreigner, it was interesting to me to watch the first true change of power, Baayen recounts. Direct presidential elections were opened up in 1987, but Roh Tae-woo, the ruling party candidate favored by the military, and won. Kim Young-sam from the same party won in 1992.
I was not 100 percent sure the military would stay in the barracks, so was relieved and impressed when a new party came to power peacefully. That was probably the only good news that whole terrible winter.
I was still here five years later, in 2002 while all the candidates went along with what I call the anti-American campaign, he says. That election was also exciting and went down to the wire.
This year is a little different. The frontrunner is so far ahead that it would be a surprise if anyone other than Lee Myung-bak won.
I believe hes liked by most because he has the image of a leader who will get things done, says Ed Foychuk, a Seoul business owner. He did it as CEO, he did it as mayor of Seoul, and now people are hoping hell get things done as president.
Chung is hoping to ride his (decent) looks and media savvy all the way into Cheon Wa Dae, he says of Chung Dong-young, who is second in the polls. The problem is, Korea already had a president with great hair, and hes done little for the nation over the last few years.
John Dunbar, a website editor from Canada, agrees that Lee Myung-bak will probably win. Unless one of the many corruption allegations actually sticks to him and he gets arrested, I figure hell be the next president.
I dont have high hopes for the future of leadership in this country, he continues. I still remember in August 2005 after the Music Camp incident on MBC, (Lee Myung-bak) commented that the government should start a blacklist to ban obscene bands. If the government starts doing that, what will constitute obscenity? Nudity? Profanity? Looking weird? How about political dissent? I dont trust Lee Myung-baks commitment to keeping Korea a democratic country.
Not all people are so doubtful of Lee.
Mr. Lee was an impressive mayor of Seoul. That and his experience as CEO give him the experience I think a president needs, says Mark Baayen.
Others agree that the economy is the driving force behind Lees popularity.
I think Lee Myung-bak will win. Korean people are very worried about their economy, despite a 5 percent annual growth rate. I think thats because the gap between rich and poor is getting greater, mostly due to the rise in property values, says James from Canada.
If I were Korean, Id also vote for Lee Myung-bak. I dont think hes the best, but I think hes the best of the front-running three. Id want my vote to count.
However, James thinks the campaigns have proceeded in unprofessionally.
I think the campaigns are childish, says James. The candidates spend a lot of time slagging each other off, and the people on every street corner blaring music and stuff is annoying.
Indeed, the synchronized dancing, terrace-chant style songs and music-blaring, balloon-decked campaign trailers are a long way from Western election campaigns.
As far as campaigning goes, Canada is less annoying. No loud speakers and people on street corners bowing and repeating the candidates name, he says.
To me, synchronized dancing and clowns on stilts passing out fliers cheapens the democratic process, says Susan Freese, a fund manager from the United States.
But who am I to judge. People get to vote and thats what matters. |
We're less annoying! Whoo, whoo!
I also liked the part I highlit in green. |
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