GNP Unveiling Party Reform Measures Truth Behind GNP's Popularity GNP Leadership Urged to Resign Over By-Election Reform Proposals Fail to Mend GNP Rift Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye Should Repent First It's Change or Die for the GNP, by Ryu Geun-il Lee Calls Truce in Battle of GNP Presidential Hopefuls A Chance for Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, by Yang Sang-hoon 'Power Struggle Will Cost GNP the Election' Is This Really the End of Infighting in the GNP?

But the GNP lost the western Daejon district despite its soaring approval ratings and strong campaign support from the party's two leading presidential contenders Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye. Against initial expectations of an all-out victory, it was beaten by independent candidates in five out of six constituencies that re-selected the heads of local administrations. Some GNP lawmakers called on the party leadership to resign over the crushing defeat, saying the by-election results gave the lie to the party’s belief that it dominates the political landscape.

In parliamentary by-elections, Sim Dae-pyong of the minor People First Party won a landslide victory over the GNP candidate Lee Jae-sun in western Daejon. In Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, Go Hee-seon of the GNP defeated Park Bong-hyun of the Uri Party. In Muan-Shinan, South Jeolla Province, Kim Hong-up of the small DP beat independent Lee Jae-hyun. Kim is the son of former president Kim Dae-jung, whose political stronghold is in the Jeolla provinces.

(englishnews@chosun.com )