Rep. Kim Tae-ho of the ruling Saenuri Party, center, urges Rep. Park Geun-hye, former chairwoman of the party, to take responsibility for the money-for-candidacy scandal during a news conference held at the party’s headquarter in Seoul, Sunday. Governor of Gyeonggi Province Kim Moon-soo, right, and Yim Tae-hee, former presidential chief of staff, also attended the news conference. Yonhap

By Chung Min-uck

Three presidential hopefuls of the ruling Saenuri Party agreed to return to the primary to select its presidential candidate, reversing their position to boycott the contest after the eruption of a corruption scandal.

Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo, Rep. Kim Tae-ho and Yim Tae-hee, former presidential chief of staff earlier said they would withdraw from the party’s primary over a money-for-candidacy scandal that took place under presidential frontrunner Rep. Park Geun-hye’s leadership ahead of the April 11 National Assembly elections; and demanded party Chairman Hwang Woo-yea to resign.

However, they decided to compete in the primary after having a meeting with Park, Hwang and former Incheon Mayor Ahn Sang-soo at the party’s headquarters in Seoul, Sunday, where they found common ground.

“The candidates have confirmed their will to regain power in the Dec. 19 presidential election,” said Saenuri Party spokesman Hwang Young-cheul after the meeting. “The candidates agreed to continue in the party’s primary.”

As a condition for the return, Hwang Woo-yea agreed to step down from his post if corruption is proven.

The candidates also agreed to set up a fact-finding committee consisting of members recommended by each presidential candidate to thoroughly investigate the case.

Prosecutors are currently investigating the allegation that Hyun Ki-hwan received 300 million won ($265,000) from now Rep. Hyun Young-hee ahead of the April general elections. Rep. Hyun is suspected of getting a proportional representation seat on the party’s ticket through the bribery.

Park, the daughter of late President Park Chung-hee, apologized for the money-for-candidacy scandal.

“I feel sorry before the people of our nation,” said Park. “Though the truth is yet to be confirmed, I regret that this kind of accusation has surfaced.”

Though the worst scenario of having the ongoing primary be halted was avoided, observers say, it is thought the scandal could still deal a blow to Park’s presidential ambition as she called for transparency and fair competition in the selections of candidates in the lead up to the April elections.

To counter the negative fallout, the ruling Saenuri Party earlier asked Hyun Ki-hwan, who allegedly received money from Rep. Hyun Young-hee to leave the party, along with the latter.

The ruling party is scheduled to select its final presidential nominee at a national convention on Aug. 20.

Meanwhile, Ahn Cheol-soo, the dean of Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology who is running neck-and-neck with Park in polls, is also being criticized for having taken a pro-chaebol stance in the past, which is contrary to his present stance on conglomerate reform.

The former IT mogul signed a petition calling for leniency for SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won in 2003. Chey at that time was sentenced to three years in prison for irregularities including accounting fraud and illegal stock trading. Ahn expressed his regret for his past action.

Ahn has also been criticized for allegedly participating in a move to create an Internet-based bank led by large corporations. However, his supporter denied Ahn’s direct involvement.

He saw his approval rating go up following the release of his new book and an appearance on a popular television talk show, posing a potentially serious challenge to Park.