South Korea's ruling party has suffered yet another humiliating election defeat at the polls, failing to win a single race in parliamentary and local by-elections according to official results released on Thursday.
The results from Wednesday's vote brought to 40-0 the Uri Party's performance in by-elections since last year, amid widespread public distaste toward the government of President Roh Moo-hyun and his party due to perceptions that they've bungled economic and security policies, and are unwilling to acknowledge their faults.
Roh's policy of engagement with North Korea has also drawn harsh criticism since Pyongyang conducted its first-ever nuclear test on October 9.
Nine posts were at stake in Wednesday's polls, including two National Assembly seats.
The main opposition Grand National Party took one of the parliamentary seats and the other went to the minor opposition Democratic Party, according to the National Election Commission.
The Grand National Party won three local seats and independent candidates took the remaining four, the commission said.
In nationwide local elections in May, the ruling party won only one of the 16 key races for big-city mayors and provincial governors, with the Grand National Party sweeping 12 key posts and most of the smaller races.
{{/usCountry}}In nationwide local elections in May, the ruling party won only one of the 16 key races for big-city mayors and provincial governors, with the Grand National Party sweeping 12 key posts and most of the smaller races.
{{/usCountry}}