The election closed last night. It was a close race, and the outcome was heavily anticipated, but the winner who emerged was Saenuri's Park Geun-Hye with 51.6 percent. The turn-out for this election was the largest it had been in 15 years, with 75.8 percent of the eligible population voting. After winning, she gave no big, formal speech, but thanked her supporters and acknowledged her opponents.
Park Geun-Hye said that visiting the graves of her parents would be the first thing she would do after winning the election. Following their footsteps, she will soon move into the Blue House. She and her supporters hope to unify Koreans and bring happiness to the people and prosperity to the economy.
Still, as the days lead to her occupying office, there are definite concerns she must deal with:
-the slowing economic growth
-the disappearing middle-class
-relations with North Korea
-welfare for a 'rapidly aging population'
There is a debate on whether she can handle these issues, but her supporters are sure that she is capable. I understand that I am an outsider, and thus have little insight into the matter, but what I wonder is how much of their faith in her is due to her father? An article from The Guardian quotes a woman saying, '"She will save our country. Her father rescued the country."' Can she live up to her father's name? The economy-saving bit only, of course...
Her father aside, will she herself be able to step up to the plate? For the sake of Korea, I hope so.
I understand the bitterness that some supporters of Moon Jae-In must be feeling right now. It's hard to rally behind a president that you did not elect, a president in whom you don't have faith. I hope she earns it. I hope she fulfills the promises she made during her candidacy.
Good luck, Korea! 대한민국 화이팅!
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