For last 50 years the security issue has been at the center of Korean politics, and a 'trustful standpoint on the security issue' has been number one virtue for the institutionalized politicians in this country. Anti-Americanism, requesting the withdrawal of the United States Forces Korea, and attempting to revise the National Security Law have been regarded as dangerous thinking. However, this election melted down all such taboos. During the presidential race, the side accentuating national security had been attacked under the name of 'cold war minded,' while the side calling for a strengthening of the Korea-US alliance was accused of 'worshiping the powerful.'

Anti-American sentiment has become a brand new favorite fashion. 'Anti-Americanism? Why not?' has appeared instead of 'Anti-Americanism? No!' and it finally developed to 'Anti-Americanism? That is good.' On December 15, 5 days ahead of the election, large candle light vigils were held around the Gwanghwamun area in Seoul. Although the main purpose of the vigils was to commemorate two late schoolgirls accidentally killed by a US military vehicle, anti-American sympathy was evident. The main speaker on the stage yelled out, "US soldiers! Go Home!" and many gatherers responded to him by together singing a song named "F***ing USA."

A man in his thirties called Kim, who was present at the demonstration, said his participation was brought about by a spontaneous decision. "I happened to be at the area that day. Since it was cool, our dinner party naturally extended to the demonstration." Experts say television broadcasts that made the demonstration into a post-World Cup 'people’s party' contributed in making anti-American protest participation 'cool.' According to a Gallup Korea poll held on December 19, 88 percent of pollsters said that they sympathized with the 'candlelight demonstrations.' During the 16th presidential race, the candidate of a conservative party was saying that the American President George W. Bush should make a public apology for the USFK accident that killed two students.

Lee, a senior at Ewha Womans University said, "I don't like the way Americans act like they are the world police," and Kang, a 37 year old who works at a venture business added, "Koreans in their 30s have antagonistic feelings toward the US because they helped the Korean government suppress demonstrations for freedom in the 1980s." Experts say that the current dynamism of America denouncing protests is a result of a fusion of the 20s' 'sentimental anti-Americanism' and the 30s' 'ideological anti-Americanism.'

The news of North Korean ships carrying Scud missiles and North Korean nuclear reactivation, did not stir antagonism toward the North. Internet chat boards were full of opinions along the lines of "Let's import Scud missiles from North Korea to bother President Bush." Lee, a 26-year-old woman who works at a cosmetic company said, "I'm sick of tired of hearing about the threat North Korea poses to [South] Korea."

The Financial Times commented on this apparent indifference on December 16, "Seoul, which is just 50 kilometers away from the de-militarized zone will be an obvious target in case of a North Korean nuclear attack. However, no one worries."

Progressives made huge strides in the election; Roh who had been criticized as too radical in the primaries in March by his colleagues emerged victorious as the next president. The radical progressive Kwon Young-ghil of the Democratic Workers Party received 3.9 percent of the vote, three-times his showing in 1997.

Kim Young-kyu of the Socialist Party campaigned under the slogan 'Destroy the World of Money,' as an anti-capitalist. One of his party members said the election was the first one where socialist ideologies were presented publicly, something unimaginable ten years ago.

According to a Korea Gallup survey on December 19, 43.7 percent of those polled said they were conservative, 23.8 percent replied middle of the road, and 29.4 percent, progressive; showing conservatives are still the majority. In the election therefore middle of the road voters went with the progressives, leading some commentators to contend the election was a failure of the conservatives, not a victory for progressives.

(Chosun Ilbo 2002 Election Coverage Team)