S. Korea elects its first woman president Park Geun-Hye
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As leader of Asia's fourth-largest economy, Park, 60, will face numerous challenges, handling a belligerent North Korea, a slowing economy and soaring welfare costs in one of the world's most rapidly ageing societies. --PHOTO: AFP
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Winner of South Korea's presidential election Park Geun Hye waves to her supporters at a rally in Seoul on Dec 19, 2012. --PHOTO: REUTERS
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South Korea's presidential candidate Park Geun Hye of ruling Saenuri Party, right, waves to her supporters near the party's head office in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012. --PHOTO: AP
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Supporters of South Korea's presidential candidate Park Geun Hye of the ruling New Frontier Party, react as they watch live TV outside the party's office in Seoul on Dec 19, 2012. --PHOTO: AFP
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Supporters of South Korean presidential candidate Park Geun Hye of the ruling Saenuri Party cheer near the party's head office in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012. --PHOTO: AP
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Unidentified members of the opposition Democratic United Party watch TV news reporting exit polls on their presidential candidate Moon Jae In in South Korea's presidential elections at the party headquarters in Seoul on December 19, 2012.--PHOTO: REUTERS
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South Korean election officials count ballots for the presidential election at a high school gymnasium in Seoul on Dec 19, 2012. --PHOTO: AFP
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South Korean election officials count ballots for the presidential election at a high school gymnasium in Seoul on Dec 19, 2012. --PHOTO: AFP
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A man looks at posters of the candidates for South Korea's presidential election including Park Geun Hye (left) and Moon Jae In (centre) in Seoul, on Dec 19, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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South Korea's presidential candidate Park Geun Hye, centre, of the ruling Saenuri Party speaks to the media after she cast her ballot for presidential election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012. --PHOTO: AP
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An elderly woman casts her ballot in Seoul on Dec 19, 2012 in the country's presidential elections. --PHOTO: AFP
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Park Geun Hye (left), presidential candidate of conservative and right wing ruling Saenuri Party, attends her campaign in Seoul on Dec 18, 2012. --PHOTO: REUTERS
As leader of Asia's fourth-largest economy, Park, 60, will face numerous challenges, handling a belligerent North Korea, a slowing economy and soaring welfare costs in one of the world's most rapidly ageing societies. --PHOTO: AFP
Winner of South Korea's presidential election Park Geun Hye waves to her supporters at a rally in Seoul on Dec 19, 2012. --PHOTO: REUTERS
South Korea's presidential candidate Park Geun Hye of ruling Saenuri Party, right, waves to her supporters near the party's head office in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012. --PHOTO: AP
Supporters of South Korea's presidential candidate Park Geun Hye of the ruling New Frontier Party, react as they watch live TV outside the party's office in Seoul on Dec 19, 2012. --PHOTO: AFP
Supporters of South Korean presidential candidate Park Geun Hye of the ruling Saenuri Party cheer near the party's head office in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012. --PHOTO: AP
Unidentified members of the opposition Democratic United Party watch TV news reporting exit polls on their presidential candidate Moon Jae In in South Korea's presidential elections at the party headquarters in Seoul on December 19, 2012.--PHOTO: REUTERS
South Korean election officials count ballots for the presidential election at a high school gymnasium in Seoul on Dec 19, 2012. --PHOTO: AFP
South Korean election officials count ballots for the presidential election at a high school gymnasium in Seoul on Dec 19, 2012. --PHOTO: AFP
A man looks at posters of the candidates for South Korea's presidential election including Park Geun Hye (left) and Moon Jae In (centre) in Seoul, on Dec 19, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
South Korea's presidential candidate Park Geun Hye, centre, of the ruling Saenuri Party speaks to the media after she cast her ballot for presidential election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012. --PHOTO: AP
An elderly woman casts her ballot in Seoul on Dec 19, 2012 in the country's presidential elections. --PHOTO: AFP
Park Geun Hye (left), presidential candidate of conservative and right wing ruling Saenuri Party, attends her campaign in Seoul on Dec 18, 2012. --PHOTO: REUTERS
SEOUL (AFP) - South Korea elected its first female president on Wednesday, handing a slim but historic victory to conservative ruling party candidate Park Geun-Hye, daughter of the country's former military ruler.
As leader of Asia's fourth-largest economy, Park, 60, will face numerous challenges, handling a belligerent North Korea, a slowing economy and soaring welfare costs in one of the world's most rapidly ageing societies.
With 85 per cent of the national vote counted, Park had an insurmountable lead of 51.6 per cent to 48 per cent over her liberal rival, Moon Jae-In of the main opposition party. Despite freezing temperatures that hovered around -10 Celsius, the election was marked by a high turnout of nearly 76 per cent, compared to 63 per cent in the 2007 presidential poll.
The election was largely fought on domestic economic issues, with both candidates offering similar policies as they went in search of centrist voters beyond their conservative and liberal bases.
