Opposition in Surprise Lead in S. Korea Vote

Riot police battled protesters today during violent demonstrations against alleged vote fraud as opposition candidates took a surprise lead in about half of the parliamentary races nationwide.

With 30% of the vote counted, the state-controlled KBS television network reported that candidates from three opposition parties were leading in 117 races.

Candidates in President Roh Tae Woo’s Democratic Justice Party led in only 90. There were no immediate trends reported in the 17 other races for the 224 single-member districts.

Another 75 seats in the 299-member National Assembly will be decided by the parties’ nationwide vote proportions.

Early Prediction Fades

The Korean news agency Yonhap predicted that Roh’s party would fail to win a majority. Earlier predictions said the governing party would triumph because of divisions within the opposition.

Opposition control of the legislature would have added impact under a new constitution that took effect in February, when Roh started a five-year term after winning office in December with 36% of the vote.

The new basic law, part of democratic reforms begun last summer after widespread anti-government demonstrations, gives the Assembly powers to investigate government actions. The president no longer can dissolve the legislature, which has a four-year term.

TV Test Causes Furor

Today’s protests followed a report Monday by one television station that Democratic Justice Party candidate Hyun Kyung Dae had won a seat on southern Cheju Island with 39% of the vote. The station, part of the MBC network, said the report accidentally went on the air during a rehearsal for today’s election coverage.

The network said it fired the station manager and four other officials.

But the gaffe fueled protests on the island, where an estimated 1,000 people fought with police. News reports said authorities were investigating whether the broadcast broke election laws.

In Seoul, police fired tear gas to disperse 300 Yonsei University students who threw rocks and firebombs to protest alleged election manipulation in favor of the governing party.

Earlier, police broke up a similar protest by 50 Yonsei students. No injuries were reported.

Hundreds of students dashed through streets in Seoul’s downtown Myongdong shopping area, shouting slogans against “election rigging” and chanting “Down with dictatorship.”