Every Korean election year, the political parties’ festering grudges and tribal feuds, catalyzed by ambition, render the entire Korean political party system unstable. Parties shatter into mercurial gobs, collide, and reform. — OFK, 5 January 2006 The first test tube hit the laboratory floor today: Goh Kun made it clear on Thursday that he intended to run for the presidency, and the reaction in political circles has been swift. Especially with the Uri Party in disarray after its drubbing in...

[Update 5 Jun 06: Uri appears to be dissolving over a proposed merger with the Democratic Party. Scroll down for more.] Here is the most remarkable demographic trend of the week: Mr. Roh and Uri also seem to have lost the young vote. About half of Koreans in their 20s supported the Grand National Party, as did half of those in their 30s. The real action now centers around Korea’s political left and right, with the left being much more...

As predicted by just about everyone, except by greater margins than expected. Because the turnout was heavy, the GNP can consider this a convincing win, but I suspect it could have been the result of “negative turnout” — turnout by those voting against Uri, which has allowed South Korea to descend into chaos. The only governorship the Uri Party won was in its heartland of Cholla Puk-do. There’s no way the ruling Uri party can put a good face on...