FACTBOX-South Korea presidential election at a glance
Dec 13 (Reuters) - South Koreans will elect a new president on Dec. 19 who will serve a single five-year term as head of the world's 13th largest economy.
Here is a glance at the race:
MAIN CANDIDATES:
Lee Myung-bak, 65, is the front-runner and candidate of the conservative Grand National Party. He is a former top executive of the Hyundai Group who has also served as the mayor of Seoul.
Chung Dong-young, 54, is a distant second. He is the candidate of the left-leaning, ruling United New Democratic Party who was once a TV newscaster and served in the current government as the cabinet minister responsible for North Korea affairs.
Lee Hoi-chang, 72, is third. He is a staunch conservative who ran and lost twice as the GNP's candidate in 1997 and 2002. He is running as an independent.
POLL NUMBERS
Support rate from daily newspaper JoongAng Ilbo poll published on Tuesday: Lee Myung-bak 43.6 percent, Chung 16.8 percent, Lee Hoi-chang 16.3 percent.
Top issues for voters from national daily Hankyoreh poll published on Dec. 1: Economic management 43.5 percent, employment 17.3 percent, social welfare 14.3 percent, education 11.5 percent, real estate prices 6.8 percent, North Korea policy 3.2 percent.
MAIN POLICIES:
Lee Myung-bak wants to roll back regulations on businesses, make the country more attractive to foreign investors and clamp down on unions that take illegal labour actions. He has pledged to take a tough line on North Korea and link the South's aid to progress North Korea makes on ending its nuclear arms programme.
Chung wants to increase welfare spending and use the government to help make industries such as aerospace and robotics drivers of the economy. He advocates a steady flow of aid to North Korea and expanding joint cooperation projects.
Lee Hoi-chang promises to have the toughest line on North Korea of all the leading candidates. He wants Pyongyang to return several hundred South Koreans it has kidnapped.
ELECTION DAY OUTLINE:
Voting ends at 6 p.m. local time 0900. Voting age is 19 and there are 37.67 million voters.
Television networks usually report their projected winner based on exit polling shortly after voting ends. The National Election Commission usually declares the official winner at about 2 a.m to 3 a.m. (1700 GMT to 1800 GMT).
The new president takes office on Feb. 25. (Reporting by Jon Herskovitz and Jessica Kim, editing by Grant McCool)
Here is a glance at the race:
MAIN CANDIDATES:
Lee Myung-bak, 65, is the front-runner and candidate of the conservative Grand National Party. He is a former top executive of the Hyundai Group who has also served as the mayor of Seoul.
Chung Dong-young, 54, is a distant second. He is the candidate of the left-leaning, ruling United New Democratic Party who was once a TV newscaster and served in the current government as the cabinet minister responsible for North Korea affairs.
Lee Hoi-chang, 72, is third. He is a staunch conservative who ran and lost twice as the GNP's candidate in 1997 and 2002. He is running as an independent.
POLL NUMBERS
Support rate from daily newspaper JoongAng Ilbo poll published on Tuesday: Lee Myung-bak 43.6 percent, Chung 16.8 percent, Lee Hoi-chang 16.3 percent.
Top issues for voters from national daily Hankyoreh poll published on Dec. 1: Economic management 43.5 percent, employment 17.3 percent, social welfare 14.3 percent, education 11.5 percent, real estate prices 6.8 percent, North Korea policy 3.2 percent.
MAIN POLICIES:
Lee Myung-bak wants to roll back regulations on businesses, make the country more attractive to foreign investors and clamp down on unions that take illegal labour actions. He has pledged to take a tough line on North Korea and link the South's aid to progress North Korea makes on ending its nuclear arms programme.
Chung wants to increase welfare spending and use the government to help make industries such as aerospace and robotics drivers of the economy. He advocates a steady flow of aid to North Korea and expanding joint cooperation projects.
Lee Hoi-chang promises to have the toughest line on North Korea of all the leading candidates. He wants Pyongyang to return several hundred South Koreans it has kidnapped.
ELECTION DAY OUTLINE:
Voting ends at 6 p.m. local time 0900. Voting age is 19 and there are 37.67 million voters.
Television networks usually report their projected winner based on exit polling shortly after voting ends. The National Election Commission usually declares the official winner at about 2 a.m to 3 a.m. (1700 GMT to 1800 GMT).
The new president takes office on Feb. 25. (Reporting by Jon Herskovitz and Jessica Kim, editing by Grant McCool)
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