VOA标准英语2011--Political Novice Victorious in Seoul's Mayoral Election

Political Novice¹ Victorious² in Seoul's Mayoral Election

 

Park Won-soon, a liberal independent candidate backed by the opposition³, has won the fiercely fought mayoral election in South Korea's capital. The contest is viewed as an indicator⁴ of which way the political winds are blowing for the country's parliamentary and presidential elections next year.

The solid victory by Park Won-soon, a political novice and long-time civic⁵ activist⁶, is seen as a significant setback⁷ for the governing conservative Grand National Party.

A political novice, is the victor in Seoul's closely watched mayoral election. He dashed the hopes of a seasoned and prominent politician, Na Kyung-won of the ruling Grand National Party, to become the capital city's first female mayor.

Park says his election is a victory for all of Seoul's ten-and-a-half million people.

The victorious candidate told supporters early Thursday he will start his administration by taking care of those citizens who have suffered. He adds that the "engine of universal welfare" will make Seoul a city where people are the priority.

The defeated Na said she takes the results as an opportunity for introspection. Na, without mentioning Park by name, added she hopes the new mayor will be a great mayor for the future of Seoul.

Lawyer-turned-activist Park Won-soon, the victor for the race of Mayor of Seoul Mayor, pictured during his election campaign in Seoul, October 25, 2011.

Sociology Professor Chung Il-joon of Korea University says Park's victory has significant ramifications⁸ for the national political scene.

"The Seoul mayoral election is a barometer⁹ of Korean politics," Chung says. "Seoul is very symbolic¹⁰, it is not just one big city. It is almost one-fifth of the population. Through this election result we can speculate what will happen next year, the general election and presidential election."

The previous mayor, Oh Se-hoon of the GNP, resigned in August, to take responsibility for a bungled¹¹ referendum over free school lunches, a program he opposed.

The two major candidates vying¹² to succeed him, to some degree, were overshadowed by their respective high profile backers.

Na received support from another prominent female politician, Park Geun-hye. Her father, Park Chung-hee, was South Korea's president for 18 years until he was assassinated¹³ in 1979.

Park herself, no relation to the new mayor, has been regarded as the leading candidate for the GNP's nomination¹⁴ for president next year. But Na's defeat is a setback for the late president's daughter's apparent aspirations¹⁵ for the country's highest office.

The victorious independent candidate for Seoul mayor received a late boost from one of the country's most popular public figures, a software entrepreneur who became a university professor, Ahn Cheol-soo.

Ahn himself had considered a run for mayor amid polls showing him to be the favorite if he had indeed entered the race.

Na, who is 47, enjoyed stronger support among older voters and homeowners.

A retired¹⁶ 67-year-old woman, who only wanted to be identified as Ms. Chun, says she voted for Na because she considered the candidate honest and intelligent.

Chun said she disagreed with those who said that only a man can be mayor. She says she respects and loves Na because she walked the streets as a mother stating her opinions clearly and that is what a mayor is supposed to do.

Park, who is 53, was favored by younger voters. A 34 year old male voter, who only wanted to be identified by his family name, Cho, says he trusts Park because he is taking politics in a non-traditional direction while Na cannot relate to the working class.

Cho said the activist Park could have made a lot of money as a lawyer, but he gave up a privileged life to create charity ventures.

However, some liberals expressed hesitation¹⁷ about supporting Park, concerned he is too far to the left, noting his repeated criticism of South Korean government policies towards the communist North.

During the campaign, Park also embraced the language of the recent demonstrations¹⁸ in New York under the "Occupy Wall Street" banner. He criticized the influence of big business in South Korea and the country's close ties to the United States.

Communist North Korea also weighed in on the mayoral race in a commentary in the ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun. It urged Seoul's voters to bring about new politics by voting against the GNP's candidate.

1 novice   

adj.新手的，生手的

参考例句：

• As a novice writer,this is something I'm interested in.作为初涉写作的人，我对此很感兴趣。
• She realized that she was a novice.她知道自己初出茅庐。

2 victorious   

adj.胜利的，得胜的

参考例句：

• We are certain to be victorious.我们定会胜利。
• The victorious army returned in triumph.获胜的部队凯旋而归。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 indicator   

n.指标；指示物，指示者；指示器

参考例句：

• Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation.黃金价格常常被看作是通货膨胀的指标。
• His left-hand indicator is flashing.他左手边的转向灯正在闪亮。

5 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

6 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

7 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。

8 ramifications   

n.结果，后果( ramification的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These changes are bound to have widespread social ramifications. 这些变化注定会造成许多难以预料的社会后果。
• What are the ramifications of our decision to join the union? 我们决定加入工会会引起哪些后果呢？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 barometer   

n.气压表，睛雨表，反应指标

参考例句：

• The barometer marked a continuing fall in atmospheric pressure.气压表表明气压在继续下降。
• The arrow on the barometer was pointing to"stormy".气压计上的箭头指向“有暴风雨”。

10 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

11 bungled   

v.搞糟，完不成( bungle的过去式和过去分词 )；笨手笨脚地做；失败；完不成

参考例句：

• They bungled the job. 他们把活儿搞糟了。
• John bungled the job. 约翰把事情搞糟了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

12 vying   

adj.竞争的；比赛的

参考例句：

• California is vying with other states to capture a piece of the growing communications market.为了在日渐扩大的通讯市场分得一杯羹，加利福尼亚正在和其他州展开竞争。
• Four rescue plans are vying to save the zoo.4个拯救动物园的方案正争得不可开交。

13 assassinated   

v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏

参考例句：

• The prime minister was assassinated by extremists. 首相遭极端分子暗杀。
• Then, just two days later, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. 跟着在两天以后，肯尼迪总统在达拉斯被人暗杀。 来自辞典例句

14 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

15 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

16 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

17 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

18 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。