Floating Voters in the Honeymoon Election of Korea

This study aims to empirically analyze the effect of the honey m∞n election in Korea and its p이 itica l implications, partiαlarly through a consideration of f10ating voters’ behavior between the Presidential Election and the 18th National Assembly 티Koon. Korean p이 itical parties still have a very weak foundation and low leve! of mass 5UJψort. There are other problems of identity, including frequent name changes due 10 party mergers and splits around election time. Howeν er， after analysis of panel survey data and the modeling of various types of floating voters, it can be cautiously said that in the honeym∞n election floating voters seemed 10 base their votes on personal preference for politicalleaders rather than voting along party lines, and that the honeymoon effect is relatively restrained in the Korean electoral P α:ess， where political parties are not finnly institutionalized The majority of floating voters changed their mind and suppoed the major opp∞ition party, United Democratic PaπY in the 18th National Assembly Electîon, as compared with the Presidcntial Election held a few months earlier.