Kim Backers Run Surprisingly Strong Second in Korean Vote

A new opposition party aligned with dissident Kim Dae Jung took an early lead in Seoul and made a surprisingly strong second-place showing nationwide in today’s parliamentary elections.

The fledgling New Korea Democratic Party had hoped to gain a foothold in the National Assembly and reduce the ruling Democratic Justice Party’s share of the popular vote enough to demonstrate that President Chun Doo Hwan has lost public confidence.

Kim, once condemned to death, returned from two years in exile in the United States on Friday and is under house arrest. He and another opposition leader, Kim Young Sam, also under house arrest, have been the inspiration for the newly formed party, which is led by politicians only recently removed from the nation’s political blacklist.

Highest Turnout in 25 Years

The nationwide elections for National Assembly drew 84.2% of the nation’s 23.9 million eligible--the highest turnout in 25 years, election officials said.

Analysts had predicted that the New Korea Democratic Party would win about 20 seats.

But with about 44% of the ballots counted, the new opposition party was leading in 47 races--including 10 of the 14 districts in the capital. But Chun’s party remained well ahead, leading in 88 races nationwide. The officially sanctioned opposition--the Democratic Korea Party--was a poor third