The most pronounced regional cleavage is between Kyongsang in the south-east and the Cholla region in the south-west.
ECONOMIST: Regionalism could be on its way out
2.
It would probably help Mr Kim's new party win seats in the Kyongsang region, the opposition's political stronghold.
ECONOMIST: South Korea
3.
Following Mr Kim's victory in the 1997 presidential elections, the favouritism previously shown to the inhabitants of Kyongsang was replaced by the promotion of those who originated from Cholla.