The Korea Local Administration Review

The study aims at introducing examples of election manifesto evaluation andexamining the relation between the manifesto evaluation and electoral results inthe 2010 Local Election. Manifesto evaluation has taken on importance becauseit provides an object standard in choosing a competent candidate and becomesthe premise of fulfillment evaluation on campaign pledges after a candidate getselected. Thus, we considered carefully the processes and the results ofManifesto evaluation done by the Manifesto Study Group in the Korean PoliticalScience Association. Likewise, we tried to draw tasks required to vitalizepolicy-oriented election prior to the 2012 general election and the 2012presidential election.Results of evaluation on candidates’ election pledges showed that in generalfeasibility and efficiency were comparatively low while their congruency washigh. Also, results exhibited that evaluation on incumbents’ campaign pledgeswas much higher than challengers’. Comparing GNP candidates with DPcandidates, we found that GNP candidates were better in terms of feasibility,efficiency, and vision; however, DP candidates were better in congruency. Inthe 2010 local election, the government party was likely to focus on economicgrowth; on the other hand, the main opposition party was likely to placeemphasis on social welfare. Before the 2010 local election, region, politicalfigures, and evaluation on incumbents had played a significant role in votingbehavior. But, in the 2010 local election, tensions between political parties tohave advantage over policy agenda setting had been mounted. The fact thatManifestos between the parties were clearly distinguished is encouragedbecause the Manifesto Movement, adopted with the purpose of realizingpolicy-oriented election and responsible party politics, is developed in thedesirable direction.□ Keywords: Manifesto, 2010 local election, election pledges, election issue,policy-oriented election