South Korea began a new political era today after a liberal party won a major election victory that ended conservative control of parliament and gave a vote of support to the impeached president.
The Uri Party captured a majority in yesterday's election on a groundswell of support for President Roh Moo-hyun, tripling its seats at the expense of the parties that sent him into a political limbo last month for violating a minor election law.
"Our people wrote a new history of elections," acting President Goh Kun said in a televised address. "With this election, I hope a new era of politics of coexistence and cooperation will be born."
Mr Goh, who is interim leader until the Constitutional Court rules on the impeachment vote, said the government and all political parties should concentrate on reviving the economy.
The election marked the first time a left-leaning or liberal party had wrested control of the conservative chamber and meant the pro-Roh Uri Party could push through reformist legislation long stalled by opponents. "Uri" means "our" in Korean.
One of the most momentous shifts in policy could come if Uri and Mr Roh, if he is reinstated by the Constitutional Court, change the emphasis in ties with the United States, Seoul's ally for half a century - so altering plans to send troops Iraq and dealings with North Korea's nuclear threat.