Prudent, soft-spoken and unwavering in his commitment to political liberalism, Rep. Moon Jae-in is the flag bearer of an opposition group faithful to the late former President Roh Moo-hyun.

Moon, 59, declared his presidential bid on June 17 pledging to revive principles of fairness, peace and public welfare ― Roh’s core values which he said were severely undermined by the present conservatives in power.

The last chief of staff for Roh was among a few who remained faithful throughout his turbulent presidency, amid corruption scandals involving his family after retirement, up to the moment when he jumped off a cliff in May 2009.

His shared history with the former leader catapulted Moon as the most powerful presidential hopeful of the opposition Democratic United Party, which lacked a viable competitor to Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri Party.

But it is a double―edged sword. He faces tough battles with critics of the Roh era, which conservatives and moderate opposition politicians describe as politically divisive, economically unstable and too lenient to a nuclear-armed North Korea.

He also must shake off his image as a henchman who had never been on the top of the ladder of decision and responsibility whether in government or a political party.

Announcing his top mission to about 1,000 supporters, Moon was reminiscent of his fiery boss.

“The era is over in which those with power and money moved the country to their will. Gone are old economics, old politics and old power that forced endless sacrifices of powerless people,” he said.

As the venue for launching his candidacy, the former human rights lawyer chose the Seoul Independence Park, a former prison. He was jailed there for four months in 1975 for participating in protests against the iron-fisted rule of former President Park Chung-hee, father of the Saenuri frontrunner.

He paid tribute to those who sacrificed themselves for democracy, forging a contrast between him and Park Geun-hye who served as first lady from 1974 to 1979 after her mother was assassinated by a pro-North Korea terrorist.

“I have so far kept my distance from politics but the gloomy reality of our society has brought me to politics,” he said.

Moon became the third DUP members to join the party primary, following a fringe candidate Rep. Cho Kyoung-tae and former party leader Sohn Hak-kyu.

He would face competition with South Gyeongsang Governor Kim Doo-kwan, who is also one of the most popular pro-Roh figures.

The biggest challenge is expected to come from software businessman-turned-professor Ahn Cheol-soo. Though the professor has yet to confirm his candidacy, his popularity soared last year amid widespread public disbelief in the political establishment.

Moon is behind Park and Ahn in opinion polls. In a recent survey Park still took the lead with 38.6 percent, followed by Ahn with 22.5 and Moon with 16.5 percent.

While Park was nearly unchanged and Ahn slid in the poll, Moon rose sharply from around 10 percent after he unveiled his intent to run in the election.

Moon’s surge is widely seen as stemming from his relationship with Roh. At Cheong Wa Dae he was regarded as one of the most rational and balanced aides and helped the president behind the scenes.

His faithfulness was engraved among the public’s mind when he stood by the former president throughout the prosecutorial investigation while many of former colleagues turned their backs.

He took charge of Roh’s funeral and served as chairman of a commemorative foundation for the late president until recently

“You (Roh) have now been liberated from your destiny, but I remain stuck with the tasks that you have left me,” he wrote in his political autobiography, which was published last year.

His unchanging allegiance to Roh, however, triggered a backlash from party rivals loyal to Roh’s predecessor, the late Kim Dae-jung.

Pro-Kim groups had their support base in the southwest, traditionally in conflict with the southeast, from which Moon, Roh and Kim Doo-kwan hailed.

Moon saw his support slide when he was seen to have formed a political alliance with pro-Roh candidate Lee Hae-chan in the party’s leadership race earlier this month. Lee was elected in the race.

“Honam’s influence may not be ignored in the party’s primary and presidential election,” said a senior DUP lawmaker.

Moon has been the main target of attacks from his potential rivals in the party, who claimed that he benefited from Roh’s political legacy but has achieved little on his own.

“Rep. Moon claims to have experienced state affairs under the former Participatory Government,” Sohn said recently.

“In fact, it is not experience itself that matters, but whether the experience dended in success.”

Park Geun-hye also criticized him earlier this year.

“I do not understand Moon’s political philosophy,” she said.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)