Yul Kwon:
Welcome back. This week, South Koreans went to the polls, and in a result that surprised many, President Lee Myung-bak's governing party managed to keep its majority in parliament. His government had been mired in corruption scandals all year. So his party rebranded itself by changing its name to the New Frontier Party, and it put a new leader in charge. Here's the report from South Korean broadcaster, MBC.

Reporter:
Before Park Geun-hye became the leader of the ruling Grand National Party four months ago, the party was widely expected to win 100 seats out of a possible 300. Gaining 121 seats or more would be a huge success. That was the amount the GNP barely managed to get eight years ago when the party was in crisis. Park changed the party’s name to the New Frontier Party in February. She led its election campaign all around the country, and the NFP retained its majority. Results that even surprised party members. The party’s victory belongs to Park. Park went everywhere in the country during the official election campaign. She appealed to voters to support her party despite the current administration’s unpopularity and numerous scandals.

Park Geun-hye, New Frontier Party Leader:
We, the New Frontier Party, will keep our promise to you voters.

Reporter:
The victory earned her the nickname "Queen of Elections." Clearly, she is the front-runner in the presidential race this year. Her support in Chungcheong and Gangwon provinces grew since the last election. So there is no doubt about her power to appeal to a wide electorate in the next presidential election. However, the New Frontier Party lost in Seoul. It will be a challenge to Park since voters in Seoul have always been a reliable indicator of which candidate will win the presidency.