Park Geun-hye was elected president of South Korea during the nation’s 18th presidential election on December 19th. The ruling Saenuri Party candidate won roughly 15-point-77 million votes or 51-point-six percent of ballots cast. Park triumphed by a margin of one-point-one million votes, or three-point-six percentage points, over main opposition Democratic United Party candidate Moon Jae-in, who finished the race with 14-point-69 million votes or 48 percent of ballots cast.

In a statement to the people on December 20th, Park said she will work to resolve divisions and conflicts seen during the past century through compromise.

The presidential election narrowed into a showdown between conservative candidate Park and the main opposition Democratic United Party’s Moon Jae-in, resulting in a high voter turnout of 75-point-eight percent.

Park beat Moon in 13 out of 17 metropolitan cities and provinces, excluding Seoul, Gwangju and the two Jeolla provinces.

The daughter of former President Park Chung-hee, Park is set to make history twice through her election. She will become South Korea’s first female president and the first daughter of a former president to take over at the presidential office. Park was also the first successful candidate to win at least 50 percent of votes in a presidential race since 1987 when a direct presidential election system was introduced.

By exuding an image of valuing principles and keeping promises, Park united conservative forces and led her party to victory in the presidential race.

It’s considered Moon made strategic mistakes in his failed presidential bid. Moreover, his election campaign came to lack order after negotiations to field a single opposition candidate with independent presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo fell through.

Moon’s defeat is expected to lead to a comprehensive reorganization of the opposition camp.

1. Park Geun-hye Elected President

2. Ahn Cheol-soo Phenomenon

3. Ruling Saenuri Party Wins April General Elections

4. N. Korea Launches Long-range Rocket

5. South Korea Reaches $1 Tln in Annual Trade For 2nd Straight Yr.

6. South Korea Finishes 5th in London Olympics

7. Sejong City Launches

8. Gagnam Style Takes World by Storm

9. No. of Foreign Tourists in S. Korea Tops 10 Mln

10. Analogue Broadcasting Comes to an End