Popularity Poll

Last week 86% of South Korea's 8,300,000 voters went to the polls in the first election since the South Korean republic got its independence in 1948. The U.S.-supported nation had yet to develop a strong party system. Nearly two-thirds of the candidates for election to the National Assembly ran as independents.

When the votes had been counted it became clear that new and inexperienced legislators would predominate in the new Assembly. Independent candidates, many hostile to President Syngman Rhee, had won 130 of the 210 seats, and the firmly anti-Rhee Democratic Nationalist Party had won 23. The six parties definitely committed to support the President commanded only 50 seats. Indicating a continuation of his long seesaw battle with the Assembly, the election marked a personal and tactical blow to Syngman Rhee.

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