By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Two leading liberal contenders __ former Unification Minister Chung Dong-young and former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan __ played the North Korea card to make a case for their bids for the liberal party nomination.
Chung said he had played a critical role in helping the Gaesong Industrial Complex move forward during his tenure as minister.
``I got through various setbacks and obstacles to make it happen,'' he said.
The former unification minister downplayed the Cheonggyecheon restoration project achieved by presidential nominee Lee Myung-bak of the Grand National Party (GNP).
The project empowered the presidential nominee to be a leading presidential candidate.
``The urban beautification project generates 15 million won of utility cost every day. But the Gaesong Industrial Complex creates jobs,'' the nightly news anchor-turned-presidential candidate said.
``The economic enclave will finally become an engine for the Korean economy in the future. It will create jobs for young people,'' he said.
As for Sohn Hak-kyu, Chung made it clear that the liberal camp should investigate if his growth-oriented policy visions fit for the liberal party's policy platform. The liberals should also know if Sohn is a genuine supporter for engagement with North Korea.
The former unification minister has come in second place in polls, following former Gyeonggi Governor Soh Hak-kyu.
Rep. Lee Hae-chan, former prime minister, said Lee Myung-bak is a controversial candidate whose stance toward the North is quite problematic.
``If the GNP nominee elected president, the six-party talks will be stranded and the nation will have a long way to go in terms of peace,'' he said.
The former prime minister has come in third place in most opinion polls.
He delivered harsh comments on the former Gyeonggi governor.
Rep. Lee said a recent boost in Sohn's approval ratings in polls to a double-digit figure is no more than a technical jump caused by the former Park Geun-hye supporters.
``These supporters were disappointed after Lee Myung-bak won the conservative party nomination. Therefore the trend will not last long. If Sohn really wants to win the liberal party primaries, he should get wide support from liberal voters,'' said the former prime minister.
Rep. Lee dismissed the effect of the South-North summit on the presidential election, saying that it is not a good idea to link the two events.
Experts said he will benefit mostly from the effects of the summit to take place between Oct. 2 and 4.
Lee said his reputation as a hard-line leader could be caused by his accurate work style. He called himself a ``diary prince,'' which named after Park Geun-hye's nickname of a diary princess for her habits of taking notes.