2012 South Korean presidential election

2012 South Korean presidential election
沁水湾 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Election name	2012 South Korean presidential election
Country	South Korea
Type	presidential
Previous election	2007 South Korean presidential election
Previous year	2007
Next election	2017 South Korean presidential election
Next year	2017
Election date	19 December 2012
Turnout	75.8%

2012 South Korean presidential election The 2012 South Korean presidential election was held on 19 December 2012 to choose the successor to Lee Myung-bak. The contest featured leading candidates from the Saenuri Party, the Democratic United Party, and the Unified Progressive Party, alongside independents and minor parties, culminating in the victory of Park Geun-hye amid debates over relations with North Korea, economic policy, and political scandals. Voter turnout and regional voting patterns reflected tensions between conservative and liberal blocs, reshaping the National Assembly's political dynamics.

Background

The election followed the single five-year term of President Lee Myung-bak, whose administration's policies had provoked controversy with incidents such as the Cheonan sinking attribution dispute and the G20 Seoul summit economic initiatives. Domestic debates involved responses to the Global financial crisis of 2008–2014, labor disputes with organizations like the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, and disputes over the Four Major Rivers Project championed by Lee. Constitutional rules forbidding presidential re-election, inherited from reforms after the June Struggle and the transition from the Fourth Republic of Korea, ensured a competitive open race across established parties including the Grand National Party's successor, the Saenuri Party, and opposition formations like the Democratic United Party.

Candidates and parties

Major contenders included Park Geun-hye of the Saenuri Party (conservative), Moon Jae-in of the Democratic United Party (liberal), and Ahn Cheol-soo as an independent backed by civic networks and the New Politics Alliance for Democracy precursor movements. Other notable figures were Kim Doo-kwan of the Democratic United Party factional contests, Moon Hee-sang in internal party leadership, and candidates from the Unified Progressive Party, including Lee Jung-hee. Business and civic leaders such as Ban Ki-moon and cultural figures were discussed publicly but did not run; regional powerhouses like the Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces factored into party strategies. Parties such as the Liberty Forward Party and smaller progressive groups fielded candidates or endorsed major contenders, while political realignments involved figures from the United New Democratic Party and the People's Party precursors.

Campaign and key issues

Campaign debates centered on inter-Korean relations with Kim Jong-il's succession implications and the emerging leadership of Kim Jong-un, economic growth strategies responding to the OECD outlook, and social policy concerns involving youth unemployment and chaebol reform targeting conglomerates like Samsung and Hyundai. Park's campaign emphasized continuity with Lee's diplomatic alignment with the United States and improved ties with China, while Moon advocated progressive reform, engagement with civic movements such as the Candlelight demonstrations, and welfare expansion tied to proposals similar to those in Scandinavian social democracy. Ahn's candidacy highlighted anti-corruption, transparency against scandals like the BBK scandal legacy, and appeals to centrist voters disillusioned with the National Intelligence Service controversies. Debates touched on trade agreements including the Korea–United States Free Trade Agreement and security arrangements such as the Korean Armistice Agreement posture and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense discussions.

Opinion polls and endorsements

Opinion polling fluctuated among Korea National Election Commission-approved surveys, internal party polls, and media organizations such as KBS, MBC, and SBS. Early polls showed Ahn rising in the center, while later consolidated support moved toward Park and Moon as major-party machines mobilized regional bases in Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, and Incheon. Endorsements came from influential politicians including former presidents like Kim Young-sam sympathizers and party veterans tied to Roh Moo-hyun's legacy, as well as industrial leaders and labor unions such as the Federation of Korean Trade Unions. International figures and diplomatic communities in Seoul monitored statements from Barack Obama's administration and Xi Jinping's outreach, with editorial endorsements appearing in outlets like the JoongAng Ilbo and Hankyoreh influencing public debate.

Election results

The election produced a plurality victory for Park Geun-hye, who became the first woman elected president in Korean history, with Moon finishing as runner-up and Ahn placing third but influencing vote distribution. Regional vote maps showed conservative dominance in Gyeongsang provinces and liberal strength in Jeolla provinces and Jeju Island, reflecting long-standing electoral cleavages rooted in postwar alignments dating to the Korean War. The National Election Commission certified results amid legal challenges and recount petitions filed by minor candidates; turnout at 75.8% was high relative to prior cycles, signaling intense mobilization by party bases and civic movements.

Aftermath and impact

Park's inauguration reshaped policy toward strengthened ties with the United States and an assertive stance on North Korea denuclearization, while domestic initiatives targeted regulatory reform and large-scale infrastructure projects reminiscent of Lee's priorities. Her presidency later became central to the 2016 South Korean political scandal and the Impeachment of Park Geun-hye, events that precipitated mass protests and the rise of figures like Moon to prominence in subsequent elections. The 2012 contest influenced party realignments, contributed to the formation of new political groupings such as the People's Party (2016) offshoots, and affected South Korea's role in regional forums including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings and relations with neighboring states like Japan and Russia.

Category:Presidential elections in South Korea Category:2012 elections in Asia Category:Politics of South Korea