Author: ASEAN Tribune

The office of President Yoon Suk Yeol said Thursday that the results of any election should be accepted “sternly,” following the ruling party’s defeat in a crucial by-election in Seoul.

Jin Kyo-hoon of the main opposition Democratic Party won Wednesday’s by-election for chief of Gangseo Ward, defeating his rival Kim Tae-woo of the ruling People Power Party by a larger-than-expected margin of 17.15 percentage points.

The by-election was closely watched as a barometer of voter sentiment ahead of parliamentary elections slated for next April.

“The government’s position is that the result of any election should be accepted sternly,” a senior presidential official told Yonhap News Agency.

While Yoon’s office has not issued a formal response to the election outcome, presidential officials have been reluctant to interpret the result as a judgment by the general public, given that the Gangseo area has traditionally been a DP stronghold.

“If we take this as a strong vaccination shot, it could turn into good me
dicine,” a presidential official said, adding he expects the administration to conduct a review of state affairs so far.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

Leaders of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) pledged Thursday to heed the voice of the people and come up with extraordinary measures to win back their trust after a crushing defeat in this week’s by-election for chief of Seoul’s Gangseo Ward office.

Jin Kyo-hoon of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) won 56.52 percent of the vote against his PPP rival Kim Tae-woo’s 39.37 percent in Wednesday’s election seen as a test of voter sentiment ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections.

The larger-than-expected margin of 17.15 percentage points was seen as a warning against the way the administration of President Yoon Suk Yeol handles state affairs and alarmed the ruling party at a time when April’s general elections are only six months away.

“Our party has put forward our best efforts, with sincerity, but was unable to receive the choice of the Gangseo Ward residents,” PPP leader Kim Gi-hyeon said in a party leadership meeting. “We will analyze the reasons for the defeat in a cool-headed manner and
come up with extraordinary measures to win the general elections.”

The PPP floor leader, Rep. Yun Jae-ok, vowed to put more effort into caring for people’s livelihoods.

“We will analyze the election result and the various difficulties people are going through so as to make up the shortfalls in party policies and management and pour all our energy into the recovery of the economy and people’s livelihoods,” he said.

On Friday, the PPP plans to hold a meeting of its leadership to gather plans to improve the party’s structure ahead of the upcoming general elections, said PPP’s chief spokesperson, Rep. Kang Min-kuk.

Wednesday’s by-election took place after Kim was removed from the top post of the ward office in May due to a suspended prison sentence for leaking secrets he gained while working for a special inspection team under former President Moon Jae-in.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

The candidate from the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) won a crucial local by-election in Seoul, the voting results showed Thursday, capping a high-stakes contest seen as a key barometer of voter sentiment ahead of next year’s parliamentary election in April.

Jin Kyo-hoon of the DP had 56.52 percent of the vote to represent Gangseo Ward, while his rival from the ruling People Power Party (PPP), Kim Tae-woo, had 39.37 percent, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). Jin was 17.15 percentage points ahead of Kim.

Voter turnout was tallied provisionally at 48.7 percent, the NEC said.

Jin called his election a “victory for common sense and principle” and pledged to use his “second and minute” for the district.

Even before the final results came, Kim conceded defeat in the by-election.

“I feel sorry that I could not respond to the backing of those who supported me,” he said in a statement. “I also extend my appreciation to people in my camp who did their utmost despite the difficult circu
mstances.”

A graduate of the Korean National Police University, Jin served in various top police posts, including as the chief of the Jeonbuk Provincial Police.

Although the election will only decide who will become one of Seoul’s 25 ward chiefs, it has gained much attention, with the turnout for the two-day advance voting recording the highest ever in the country’s by-election history.

During the early voting on Friday and Saturday, 113,313 out of the 500,603 eligible voters cast their ballots, representing a turnout of 22.64 percent, the NEC said.

A total of six candidates were running in the by-election, including Kim, a former ward chief, and Jin, a former deputy chief of the national police.

The by-election took place after Kim was removed from the top post of the ward office in May due to a suspended prison sentence for leaking secrets he gained while working for a special inspection team under former President Moon Jae-in.

Although the seat was vacated due to Kim’s conviction, the PPP named him a
s its candidate after a special presidential pardon in August, which reinstated his right to run in elections.

Rival parties have each made a final plea for voters’ support for their respective candidates, with the PPP saying Kim is the right person who will be working for the Gangseo constituency.

The DP, meanwhile, has appealed for support for Jin, arguing that winning the seat will serve as an opportunity to showcase judgment of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin have pledged to move relations between the two countries further forward as they exchanged messages marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties after a summit last month, Pyongyang’s state media reported Thursday.

Kim expressed his firm belief that North Korea-Russia relations will steadily develop to a new level in the future in a letter to Putin to celebrate the anniversary, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

In the letter, Kim said he was “very satisfied” with the fact that he had “candid and comprehensive” discussions with Putin for the “multiform development” of the bilateral ties during their latest summit in Russia, the KCNA said.

Kim traveled to Russia’s Far East in September for a rare summit with Putin amid concerns about a possible arms deal between the two nations.

The North’s leader also hoped that Russia will be victorious in its struggle for “frustrating the imperialists’ persistent hegemonic policy
and moves to isolate and stifle Russia,” the report said,

In his message to Kim, Putin said the summit proved that the bilateral relations are continuing to “positively develop in all aspects on the basis of the glorious traditions of the past.”

He said the implementation of the summit agreements will contribute to “further expanding the constructive bilateral cooperation for improving the well-being of the peoples of the two countries and ensuring security and stability” on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, the KCNA said.

North Korea has vowed to strengthen solidarity with countries standing against the United States and is seeking to bolster its ties with China and Russia vis-a-vis the strengthening of security cooperation among Seoul, Washington and Tokyo.

Russia, then the Soviet Union, forged diplomatic ties with North Korea on Oct. 12, 1948, recognizing the North as a state for the first time in the world.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

(KPL) In response to the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Ms Kamikawa Yoko, and her delegation started a working visit to the Lao PDR between Oct 11-12.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith (R) shake hands withMinister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Ms Kamikawa Yoko in Vientiane on Oct 11.

(KPL) In response to the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Ms Kamikawa Yoko, and her delegation started a working visit to the Lao PDR between Oct 11-12.

An official bilateral meeting was held on Oct 11 in Vientiane where the sides reviewed past cooperation and discussed their future cooperation plan.

The two ministers discussed the bilateral cooperation in various areas including economy, trade, investment, development, social and cultural affairs, education, sports, tourism, labour and foreign aff
airs.

Both sides noted that the friendship and good cooperation between the two countries have been strengthened constantly over the past 69 years as this is reflected in the regular exchange of visits between high-ranking officials of the two countries.

An official bilateral meeting was held on Oct 11 in Vientiane

Both sides noted that working closely to prepare for the Lao PDR’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2024 and the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Lao PDR and Japan, as well as the 10th anniversary of the Lao-Japan strategic partnership in 2025.

Both sides also exchanged points of view on regional and international issues of common interest.

On behalf of the government and people of the Lao PDR, Mr. Saleumxay expressed thanks to the assistance of the government and people of Japan in various areas including human resources development, public health, agriculture-forestry, infrastructure, during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as clearance of une
xploded ordnance (UXO).

In reply, the visiting Japanese Minister affirmed to continue to strengthen the friendship and good cooperation between Laos and Japan to bring optimal benefits to peoples of the two countries.

Source: Lao News Agency