The ruling Saenuri Party’s presidential frontrunner Park Geun-hye will announce her presidential bid on Tuesday at Times Square Mall in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, a spokesperson of her camp said Thursday.

The presidential nomination race at the Saenuri Party is expected to heat up upon Park’s declaration, as the party prepares to finalize its presidential candidate for the Dec. 19 presidential election by August 20.

“The venue was chosen upon consideration that it is an open space where all walks of life come and go,” spokesman Lee Sang-il said at a press briefing.

Lee also released the list of the former chairwoman’s campaign committee, which will be co-headed by economist-turned-politician Kim Chong-in and former lawmaker Hong Sa-duck.

As for her foreign affairs, defense and security policies, Park invited members of the former Roh Moo-hyun administration, including former Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo and Yun Byung-se, former senior presidential secretary for security policy.

Economist-turned-lawmaker An Chong-bum will be in charge of welfare policies, as well as writing Park’s messages.

By Lee Joo-hee (jhl@heraldcorp.com)