By Yoo Seungki
SEOUL, May 10 (Xinhua) -- South Korea has taken off a new start as Moon Jae-in of the biggest Minjoo Party was elected the country's new president on Wednesday following the impeachment of his predecessor driven by people power.
In the process of the citizen-led ouster, ordinary people shouted equality and justice every Saturday night for months since October on the streets with candles in their hands.
The people's activity boosted a political awareness among the general public, ranging from high school students, office workers and housewives to gray-haired old men who participated in the candlelit rallies.
The Moon administration is expected to be powered by ordinary people who are awakened to the significance for their participation in politics.
Despite a mountain of challenges facing the new South Korean leader, the politically-awakened supporters would help Moon continue to push for his reform on the overall society.
"Political patience among the general public increased. It is a positive side of the influence-peddling scandal (and the subsequent candlelight demonstrations,)" said Seo Bok Kyung, a researcher at Sogang University's Institute of Political Studies.
Seo said people came to learn that just the change of a president was not able to reform their country and solve all the problems prevailing every hole and corner.
Paradoxically speaking, the researcher said, expectations were lowered for Moon to be able to reform the country in a drastic way over the short run.
Such awakening could help people be more patient towards the new president's management of state affairs.
Under late liberal President Roh Moo-hyun for whom Moon served as the chief of staff, Roh pursued reform plans in a wide range of fields, but he failed to push them through as the business, political and media elites stood up against Roh.
Roh faced an impeachment challenge during his five-year term from 2003, but the impeachment bill was rejected as people rallied against what they called a political ploy.
In the 300-seat National Assembly, Moon's Minjoo Party has 120 seats. The Liberty Korea Party of the impeached Park has 107 lawmakers, trailed by the centrist People's Party with 40 seats, the conservative Righteous Party with 20 seats and the liberal Justice Party with six seats.
