Jung Geun-sik, center, Seoul education superintendent candidate, celebrates with supporters at his campaign office in Seoul's Jongno District on Wednesday after exit polls project him to be leading in the election. Yonhap
Progressive candidates are projected to dominate Korea's education superintendent elections, leading in 11 of the 16 races surveyed, according to a joint exit poll released Wednesday by the country's three major broadcasters.
The poll, conducted by KBS, MBC and SBS following voting in the nationwide education superintendent elections, suggests that progressive candidates could ultimately win as many as 13 regional education offices, depending on the outcomes of two closely contested races.
In the Seoul metropolitan area, progressive candidates were projected to lead in all three jurisdictions.
In Seoul, incumbent superintendent Jung Geun-sik was forecast to receive 39 percent of the vote, ahead of conservative challenger Cho Jeon-hyuk, who was projected to garner 21.2 percent.
In Gyeonggi Province, progressive candidate Ahn Min-seok was projected to win 58.2 percent, compared with the 41.8 percent of conservative candidate Lim Tae-hee.
In Incheon, incumbent superintendent Do Seong-hoon was expected to secure 37.1 percent, ahead of Lee Dae-hyung's 32.7 percent.
Progressive candidates were also projected to lead in several other races, including those in Busan, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang Province, the Gwangju–South Jeolla region, South Chungcheong Province, Daejeon and Gangwon Province.
According to the exit poll, Kim Seok-jun led in Busan with 49.6 percent, while Cho Yong-sik was projected to receive 44.2 percent in Ulsan. Song Young-ki led in South Gyeongsang Province with 42.2 percent, Kim Dae-jung in the Gwangju–South Jeolla region with 40.4 percent, Lee Byung-do in South Chungcheong Province with 34.1 percent, Sung Kwang-jin in Daejeon with 33.2 percent and Kang Sam-young in Gangwon Province with 43.8 percent.
Conservative candidates were projected to lead in three regions.
Source: Korea Times News
