South Korea The Opposition Gets Its Day

A surprise election result opens an era of split rule

If political shilly-shallying were an Olympic sport, the South Korean electorate would enter this year's Summer Games in Seoul not only with the home-field advantage but with a good shot at the gold medal. Just eleven months ago, widespread protests forced the Democratic Justice Party to accede to election reforms that put its continuation in power at risk. In December, with opposition forces deeply divided, voters kept the incumbent party in office after all, electing Roh Tae Woo, 55, to a five-year term as South Korea's President. Last week the same voters, in a somewhat different mood, presented Roh with a...

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