Andres Pastrana vs Lee Myung-bak

Andres Pastrana won the Colombian presidential election as the Conservative Party candidate. He campaigned on a platform of peace negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Pastrana granted the FARC a demilitarized zone (despeje) in southern Colombia to facilitate peace negotiations. The talks began in January 1999 but were plagued by ongoing FARC attacks and kidnappings.

Pastrana secured U.S. approval and funding for Plan Colombia, a major aid package aimed at combating drug trafficking and strengthening the Colombian military. The plan included military training and equipment.

After three years of stalled negotiations and continued FARC violence, Pastrana ended the peace process. He ordered the military to retake the demilitarized zone, ending the largest peace effort with the FARC up to that point.

Lee Myung-bak won the presidential election as the Grand National Party candidate, ending a decade of progressive rule. His background as a former Hyundai CEO shaped his business-friendly policies.

Lee launched a large-scale infrastructure project to dredge and restore South Korea's four major rivers. The project aimed to prevent floods and improve water quality but faced criticism for environmental damage and cost overruns.

Lee's government signed the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA), which was ratified by both countries. The deal aimed to boost trade but was controversial in South Korea due to concerns about domestic industries.

Lee Myung-bak was convicted of bribery, embezzlement, and abuse of power, receiving a 15-year prison sentence. The case was part of a broader crackdown on corruption among former South Korean presidents.