Media, Internet firms biggest election beneficiaries in S.Korea

Media, Internet firms biggest election beneficiaries in S.Korea

SEOUL, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- South Korean Internet portals and broadcasting companies are emerging as the biggest beneficiaries ofthe forthcoming Dec. 19 presidential election, reported nationalnews agency Yonhap News.

The pro-government Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) and major opposition Grand National Party (GNP) have paid 12 billion-18 billion won (10 million-15 million US dollars) to several big television stations such as KBS, MBC and SBS, to air ads for theirrespective presidential candidates Roh Moo-hyun and Lee Hoi-chang.

Internet homepage builders are busy opening web sites for political parties aiming to woo netizens. Although such deals willnot bring them big profits, to link with any big political partieswill promote their image and brand, said Yonhap.

Simultaneously, the tourist agencies are complaining that sales inthe industry have shrunk drastically during the ongoing presidentialelection campaign period, apparently due to strict inspections ofillegal campaigning by the National Election Commission, reportedYonhap.

Major South Korean political parties, such as MDP and GNP, are proceeding various campaigns throughout the country to draw voterssupports for their candidates. Now the TV debates and ads, the Internet publicity as well as organizing activities are their maintools to boost the competition.