Seoul elects first woman president

SEOUL - Agence France-Presse

Park will become the first female president of South Korea. EPA photo

South Korea was set to elect its first female president yesterday as national TV predicted a clear victory for conservative Park Geun-hye, daughter of the country’s former dictator.

With 85 percent of the national vote counted, Park had an insurmountable lead of 51.6 percent to 48 percent over her liberal rival, Moon Jae-In of the main opposition party. The election was marked by a high turnout of around 75 percent, compared to 63 percent in the 2007 presidential poll.

An elated Park reached into the crowd to grasp hands of supporters wearing red scarves, her party’s color. “This is a victory brought by the people’s hope for overcoming crisis and for economic recovery,” she told a rally in central Seoul.

Moon concedes

Moon conceded victory to Park, saying he “humbly” accepted the decision of the voters. “Everyone did their best but I lacked the ability,” Moon told reporters outside his Seoul residence. “I humbly accept the outcome of the election.”