By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Presidential candidate Chung Dong-young of the United New Democratic Party (UNDP) started to gear up for campaigning Monday, presenting 20 core campaign pledges.
He pledged to reduce the number of temporary jobs as part of efforts to resolve social polarization.
A former unification minister, Chung also vowed to actuate a unified sports team of South and North Korea for international sporting events.
``I will reduce the ratio of temporary workers from the present 36 percent to 25 percent, the average of advanced countries, if elected president,'' Chung said. ``I will also help give incentives to companies which convert temporary workers to permanent ones.''
He said polarization in the nation is a major mission to overcome and a key for stable employment.
The UNDP nominee also vowed to double pensions and help more low-income senior citizens gain benefits from the pension system.
``The aged have yet to fully prepare for their retirement. I will increase the pension to 166,000 won ($180) and make 80 percent of old people eligible for the pension benefit.''
Under the catchphrase of ``happy families,'' he has promised to remove the four major insecurities regarding education, residence, employment and retirement.
He said he will provide newly-weds with affordable apartments worth less than 200 million won ($216,000).
For better relations and mutual development between the two Koreas, he suggested expanding the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and building more industrial sites in the North.
A television anchor-turned-politician, Chung said he will seek to change the Constitution to replace the current five-year, single-term presidency with a four-year, double-term system.
He proposed establishing an organization to investigate irregularities involving public servants apparently targeting frontrunner Lee Myung-bak of the Grand National Party (GNP).
Lee is allegedly involved in several wrongdoings including stock manipulation.
The UNDP candidate also suggested having a debate on economic policies with Lee and Moon Kook-hyun of the Creative Korea Party.
He claimed that he will make the nation the 10th strongest economic powerhouse in the world with a per capita income of $30,000.
Earlier in the day, the party launched a committee to study campaign pledges for sports activities.
In the inaugural ceremony, Chung promised to make efforts to organize an inter-Korean team for international sports games such as the Winter and Summer Olympics.
The former unification minister also suggested offering North Korean children sporting goods like soccer balls, training shoes and bicycles.
Chung said it is important to subsidize physical activities of the low-income bracket and disabled people.
He said he will provide preschool children and senior citizens with free sports programs.
As the registration of presidential candidates ended Monday, candidates are allowed to electioneer officially for 22 days from Tuesday.
Chung plans to start his campaigning at Dorasan station, the last destination of Gyeongui railway linking Seoul to Sinuiji in the North.