May work together in bid to challenge Park Geun-hye in party primary


The ruling Saenuri Party’s presidential nomination process is looking like a multi-horse race, with several underdogs striving for an upset win against frontrunner Park Geun-hye.

While Park, the party’s chief since December, is to step back from frontline politics, her potential challengers are expected to take steps to position themselves as presidential candidates.

Among them, Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Moon-soo became the first to throw his hat into the ring, declaring his candidacy Sunday.

“I have no money, people or organization. But my heart dictates that I go this way for the sake of the people,” he told a press conference.

“I believe that I can break a rock with an egg, if only I can give new hope to the disenchanted voters,” with the “rock” in his statement referring to Park’s position in the race.

Koreans will pick their next leader on Dec. 19, with incumbent President Lee Myung-bak barred from seeking re-election.

The National Election Commission will start accepting registration from preliminary presidential candidates from Monday, 240 days before the vote.

Other conservative presidential aspirants, including Reps. Lee Jae-oh and Chung Mong-joon plus former Prime Minister Chung Un-chan, are expected to make clear their plans soon. 

Rep. Lee, who leads a small faction of Saenuri lawmakers loyal to the president, will likely announce his bid before the party’s national convention on May 15, local reports said.

The Saenuri Party is to form a new leadership through the convention that will navigate the party through the presidential election.

Rep. Chung, former party chief and chairman of the nation’s largest shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries, is expected to announce his candidacy as early as later this week.

Former premier Chung is also mulling a presidential bid and is expected to decide soon. Rep. Kim Tae-ho, former governor of South Gyeongsang Province, is also mentioned in local media as a possible presidential contender.

Gov. Kim, Reps. Lee and Chung have been vocal critics of Park and her leadership style, warning about the perception among many Saenuri members that she is the conservatives’ best shot at the presidency.

The underdog candidates may team up to stop Park, local newspapers said.

Gov. Kim met with Rep. Lee on Friday to discuss how the party could best move forward with the primary. They favor an open primary race, where voters who are not affiliated with the party will have the opportunity to participate in the selection of Saenuri’s presidential flag-bearer.

In polls of potential presidential candidates, party chief Park holds an overwhelming lead.

She enjoys the support of over 40 percent, while the numbers for her potential competitors do not exceed 2 percent.

The eldest daughter of former President Park Chung-hee, she proved her electoral clout by leading her embattled party to a majority win in the April 11 general election. Most observers expected the Saenuri Party to be defeated by the main opposition Democratic United Party.

The party’s surprise win appeared to have boosted Park’s chances for the presidency. She is now polling ahead of Ahn Cheol-soo, a software guru popular among young voters, for the first time in months.

The 60-year-old lost her party’s presidential nomination to the incumbent president in 2007.

By Lee Sun-young (milaya@heraldcorp.com)