2007 South Korean presidential election

2007 South Korean presidential election
Election name	2007 South Korean presidential election
Country	South Korea
Type	presidential
Previous election	2002 South Korean presidential election
Previous year	2002
Next election	2012 South Korean presidential election
Next year	2012
Election date	19 December 2007

2007 South Korean presidential election

The 2007 South Korean presidential election was held on 19 December 2007 to select the President of the Republic of Korea. The contest featured prominent figures from the Grand National Party, the United New Democratic Party, the Democratic Party, and several smaller parties, culminating in a victory for Lee Myung-bak of the Grand National Party. The election occurred against the backdrop of transition after the presidency of Roh Moo-hyun and unfolding regional dynamics involving North Korea, United States–South Korea ties, and China–South Korea economic links.

Background and Political Context

The election followed a single five-year presidential term established under the South Korean Constitution and was shaped by the aftermath of the 2002 presidential campaign involving Roh Moo-hyun and the then-conservative realignment that produced the Grand National Party (South Korea). Key national events influencing the contest included tensions from the 2007 inter-Korean negotiations and debates about the Korean Peninsula security posture with the Department of Defense and United Nations sanctions on North Korea. Economic considerations featured discussions tied to Asian financial crisis legacies and trade relations with China and the United States. Domestic controversies traced to prior administrations involving prosecution of corruption and public sector reform affected public trust in parties such as the Uri Party and shaped the strategies of successors like the United New Democratic Party.

Candidates and Parties

The primary contenders included Lee Myung-bak of the Grand National Party, Moon Jae-in of the United New Democratic Party, Oh Se-hoon as a prominent Grand National Party figure though not the nominee, Park Geun-hye as a leading conservative within the Grand National Party faction, and Kwon Young-ghil of the Democratic Labor Party. Other candidates included Lee Hoi-chang of the Liberty Forward Party and independents who drew from democratic movement constituencies. The party landscape featured the center-right Grand National Party, the center-left United New Democratic Party formed through mergers of groups including the Democratic Party (2000), and left-wing organizations such as the Democratic Labor Party (South Korea). Political figures with backgrounds in business, civil society, and former ministerial posts competed for nominations amid internal party primaries and factional negotiations involving leaders like Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak.

Campaign and Key Issues

Major campaign themes included anti-corruption measures referencing past scandals involving figures linked to Chung Ju-yung-era conglomerates and debates over market liberalization inspired in part by Chaebol reform discussions. Foreign policy debates centered on responses to the Sunshine Policy of previous administrations, engagement with North Korea including verification of nuclear facilities tied to the Six-Party Talks, and the trajectory of United States–South Korea relations. Economic policy arguments referenced employment, income distribution, and positions on free trade agreements such as the proposed KORUS FTA, while social policy controversies involved welfare reforms and education policy implicated by prior education ministry debates. Campaign rhetoric featured appeals to voters in urban centers like Seoul and industrial regions such as Busan and Ulsan, with candidates touring provincial constituencies including Gyeonggi Province and Jeolla Province.

Opinion Polls and Media Coverage

Opinion polls during the campaign tracked support for Lee Myung-bak, Moon Jae-in, Lee Hoi-chang, and Kwon Young-ghil across media outlets including major broadcasters such as KBS, MBC, and SBS as well as national newspapers like The Chosun Ilbo, The Dong-A Ilbo, and The Korea Times. Polling showed shifts following televised debates, candidate gaffes, and revelations tied to private sector ties with conglomerates such as Hyundai and Samsung. Investigative reporting by outlets connected to the press and coverage of campaign financing touched on issues related to the National Election Commission. Media analyses referenced political communications strategies influenced by consultants with experience in campaigns for figures like Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun.

Election Day and Results

On 19 December 2007, voters nationwide cast ballots administered by the National Election Commission (South Korea), with voter turnout reported across municipalities including Seoul Special City, Busan Metropolitan City, and provincial councils. Vote counting produced a first-round decisive result under South Korea's single-round plurality system, leading to a victory for Lee Myung-bak of the Grand National Party over Moon Jae-in of the United New Democratic Party. The distribution of seats and support highlighted urban-rural divides observable in results from regions such as Gyeongsang Province and Jeolla Province, and signaled shifts in party strength entering the presidential term.

Aftermath and Political Impact

Lee Myung-bak's inauguration led to policy shifts emphasizing pro-business initiatives, infrastructure projects linked to figures like Cheonggyecheon restoration, and renewed focus on relations with United States and China. The result triggered realignments within the center-left leading to reorganization efforts culminating in parties such as the later Democratic Party and influenced future candidacies including Moon Jae-in's successful 2017 campaign. The election's legacy included debates over transparency, prosecution of corruption, and long-term impacts on inter-Korean engagement highlighted during subsequent administrations and multilateral forums like the Six-Party Talks and ASEAN Regional Forum.

Category: Presidential elections in South Korea