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South Korea's ruling Grand National Party suffers setbacks at the polls in a recent by-election. By-elections are held to fill vacant seats in parliament. Party leaders are stepping down, and it's a hard hit for the country's president.

South Korea's ruling party leaders resigned on Thursday after the party suffered a setback in by-elections.

Democratic Party leader Sohn Hak-kyu defeated a candidate from the ruling Grand National Party who was regarded as having home-turf edge in a parliamentary seat outside of Seoul.

The key word for the by-election was "change" in people's lives. Recent surveys have shown that income distribution in South Korea has become more uneven.

[Sohn Hak-kyu, Democratic Party Leader]:
"Please say it with your ballot if you think the livelihood of the people has been getting more and more difficult and you cannot stand it any more. And please shout with your ballot if you think we need a change for the difficult lives of lower and middle class people."

A spokesperson for the ruling Grand National party says they accepted the results after party leaders resigned on Thursday.

[Bae Eunhee, Spokesperson, Grand National Party]:
"Our Grand National Party accepts the people's will in a humble way. We will show our changing attitude with our efforts."

A Democratic Party spokesperson says voters chose hope.

[Cha Young, Spokesperson, Democratic Party]:
"Our people are in despair because the lives of lower class people are reduced to the greatest misery. So our people chose hope, not despair. They knew our country should change, so they chose change."