A former confidant of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun on Monday declared his bid for the leadership of the main opposition party, saying he will dedicate himself to rebuilding the embattled party.
   
Rep. Moon Jae-in, who served as Roh's chief of staff during his term from 2003 to 2008, said he will run for chairman of the No. 1 opposition party, New Politics Alliance for Democracy, in the national convention scheduled for Feb. 8.
  
"I am determined to give all of myself to save our party," the lawmaker said during a press conference at the National Assembly.

"I, Moon Jae-in, will step forward and realize change and unity within our party. I will create a party that wins and no longer loses."
  
Moon also vowed to end his political career if he fails to rebuild the opposition party. If he is elected chairman, Moon said he would not stand for the next parliamentary elections scheduled for 2016.
   
The lawmaker is seen as a potential presidential candidate in the next election slated for late 2017. In the previous election in December 2012, Moon was the standard-bearer of NPAD's predecessor but he eventually lost to then candidate and now President Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri Party.
   
NPAD has been headed by an interim leader since its two co-leaders -- Kim Han-gil and Ahn Cheol-soo -- stepped down to take responsibility for the party's crushing defeat in July's parliamentary by-elections.
   
The current interim chief, Moon Hee-sang, took office in September after his predecessor resigned amid factional infighting. (Yonhap)