Peter Alford, Tokyo
SOUTH Korean President Lee Myung-bak's Grand National Party has been thrown into disarray by shock losses in Wednesday's gubernatorial and local elections.
The GNP sailed into the elections, traditionally a mid-term test of the presidential administration, expecting to increase its strength on the back of Mr Lee's tough, steady handling of the confrontation with North Korea over the Cheonan sinking.
Instead, the GNP won only six of the major governorships and mayoral posts out of 16, while the main opposition Democratic Party won seven.
The votes across about 4000 city and provincial contests have dented Mr Lee's authority as he strives to show a unified national face to the North Koreans and the UN, which is soon to take up the Cheonan case in the Security Council.
