VOA常速英语2007年-Former Seoul Mayor Wins South Korean Presidency

By Kurt Achin
Seoul
19 December 2007

South Korean officials are confirming an election result that has been expected for weeks. Former Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak has apparently¹ won the presidency² by about half of the popular vote. VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Seoul.

With more than 90 percent of the popular vote tallied³ late Wednesday night, South Korean election officials said former Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak has about 48 percent of the day's votes.

Campaign officials at the headquarters of Lee Myung-bak's Grand National Party erupted into cheers earlier Wednesday, as national news networks forecasted his landslide⁴ victory.

Outgoing President Roh Moo-hyun phoned Lee with a congratulatory message soon after the election's results became clear.

Mr. Lee, a former Seoul mayor and corporate⁵ chairman, has promised to cut taxes, double per capita income, and boost South Korea's growth rate from the current four percent to seven percent. He has also said he will take a more "businesslike" approach toward South Korean aid and investment in North Korea.

Lee told supporters at his party's headquarters he would serve the Korean people humbly⁶, and follow their strongest wish: to revive the country's economic from what he describes as a state of turmoil⁷.

That economically focused message has proven extremely popular among South Koreans, who blame outgoing President Roh Moo-hyun for stalling growth and business activity. Average voters say supporting Lee is all about improving economic opportunity.

Ji Seung-yong, a taxi driver in his 40s, says he supported Lee because he saw "no other option" for reviving the economy.

Lee's closest challenger, United New Democrat⁸ Party candidate Chung Dong-young, received about 27 percent of the popular vote. Independent candidate Lee Hoi-chang garnered⁹ about 15 percent.

 

Lee's double-digit poll leads have persevered¹⁰ through months of allegations he once engaged in fraud and stock manipulation. South Korean prosecutors¹¹ cleared him last week of formal charges, but lawmakers approved an independent counsel investigation¹² of the matter this week.

1 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

2 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

3 tallied   

v.计算，清点( tally的过去式和过去分词 )；加标签（或标记）于；（使）符合；（使）吻合

参考例句：

• The girl tallied them with her eyes for a moment. 新娘用目光把这些化妆品清点了一下。 来自教父部分
• His account of the accident tallied with hers. 他对事故的陈述和她的相吻合。 来自辞典例句

4 landslide   

n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利

参考例句：

• Our candidate is predicated to win by a landslide.我们的候选人被预言将以绝对优势取胜。
• An electoral landslide put the Labour Party into power in 1945.1945年工党以压倒多数的胜利当选执政。

5 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

6 humbly   

adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地

参考例句：

• We humbly beg Your Majesty to show mercy. 我们恳请陛下发发慈悲。
• "You must be right, Sir,'said John humbly. “你一定是对的，先生，”约翰恭顺地说道。

7 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

8 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

9 garnered   

v.收集并（通常）贮藏（某物），取得，获得( garner的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Mr. Smith gradually garnered a national reputation as a financial expert. 史密斯先生逐渐赢得全国金融专家的声誉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He has garnered extensive support for his proposals. 他的提议得到了广泛的支持。 来自辞典例句

10 persevered   

v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She persevered with her violin lessons. 她孜孜不倦地学习小提琴。
• Hard as the conditions were, he persevered in his studies. 虽然条件艰苦，但他仍坚持学习。 来自辞典例句

11 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

12 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。