The ruling Saenuri Party on Friday named Suh Chung-won, a long-time confidant of President Park Geun-hye and former chairman of the conservative party, as its candidate for the Oct. 30 parliamentary by-election.

The Supreme Council said Suh is “the most credible candidate” to represent the party in the Hwaseong A constituency.

The decision stirred angry reactions from younger lawmakers in the ruling party who have been opposing to his nomination citing his history of corruption.

The main opposition Democratic Party also slammed the ruling party for picking Suh for his close connection to Park, despite his corruption case.

The opposition party is reportedly considering fielding Sohn Hak-kyu, its advisor and former Gyeonggi Governor, to compete with Suh.

Pundits say the upcoming by-election to be run by Park’s confidant will be a crucial test for public sentiment toward her government.

Suh is a political heavyweight who led the Grand National Party, now Saenuri, in 2002 and was one of the “Pro-Park” figures who helped her expand her influence over the years. The 70-year-old veteran politician, however, was jailed for receiving illegal donations in 2002 and 2008.

(christory@heraldcorp.com)