Скачать или смотреть Race for July 30th by-elections begins

The race is on.
Campaigning for the July 30th by-elections officially began this Thursday,... and the stakes are high -- the highest they've ever been, actually, for a by-election -- with 15 parliamentary seats up for grabs.
Ji Myung-kil reports.
For the next 13 days, 55 candidates will be on the campaign trail, battling it out for the 15 vacant parliamentary seats that are up for grabs in the July 30th by-elections.
Six of the 15 seats are located in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do province, two in the Gyeongsang-do provinces and four in the Jeolla-do provinces.
The ruling Saenuri Party is fielding candidates in all 15 races and its new chairman, Kim Moo-sung, underscored how important the election is.


"The Saenuri Party must secure a majority of parliamentary seats through the July 30th by-elections. For the next two weeks, I will concentrate solely on the election and postpone all decisions until the results are in."

With no clear winner in last month's local elections,... the unified main opposition party is determined to make a strong showing on July 30th.


"These by-elections are a match that pits our party, which strives for a brighter future for all Koreans,... against the ruling party, which is filled with arrogance and is blinded by self-righteousness."

During the campaign period, the Saenuri Party is expected to emphasize its connection to President Park Geun-hye and its commitment to helping the administration achieve its goal of national reform.
The main opposition party will focus on the government's mishandling of April's ferry tragedy, and present alternatives to the ruling party's policies.
Ji Myung-kil, Arirang News.