Never Ending Ambition

Speculation Lingers Over Lee Hoi-chang’s Presidential Bid

Lee Hoi-chang, the previous Grand National Party (GNP) candidate in past presidential elections, has drawn growing media attention regarding whether he will participate in the upcoming election. Lee attended a rally of conservative organizations Wednesday to deliver speech on pending national issues focusing on security. He particularly heaped criticism on the government’s North Korea policy with regard to the northern limit line (NLL), a de facto border in West Sea, in an apparent bid to woo conservative groups, his traditional supporters.

Though he stopped short of elaborating his presidential ambitions, rumors have it that he may seek the presidency again depending on changes in the situation. Some 2,500 supporters held an outdoor rally Tuesday urging Lee to throw his hat into the ring. He has refused to meet Lee Myung-bak despite repeated requests after the latter was sworn in as the party’s flag bearer. He also declined to assume the post as standing advisor for the GNP’s election committee.

He indirectly criticized Lee Myung-bak during a speech Oct. 19 saying: “Once a national leader or the government is not honest and loses the people’s trust by running counter to the principle of the governance of law, it is a national catastrophe.” He also said it has become an “undesirable” tendency for candidates to speak only about the economy without mentioning diplomacy and security. All these statements can be taken as offensives against Lee Myung-bak against whom charges of irrationality have been leveled. The former Seoul mayor has been highlighting his image as a president capable of building up the national economy.

Speculation on a potential presidential bid remains in the air as he has never given a clearcut denial, maintaining a kind of “neither confirm nor deny” position. Asked whether he would run for the presidency by journalists, he gave the absurd answer that, “I have not changed my mind that we should join forces to see a change of government.” A sense of instability has been intensifying among GNP party members about Lee Myung-bak, prompted by the brewing dispute over stock manipulation in the so-called “BBK Scandal” as well as several other issues.

Lee Hoi-chang has been trying to ride on the growing skepticism toward Lee Myung-bak and appears to expect a fallout in the event the latter is forced to quit the candidacy over the scandal. Having been head of the GNP and its presidential candidate in 1997 and 2001, Lee should act responsibly while keeping his dignity as senior party leader. If he wishes to run for the presidency again, he should have run in the primary races first to face the judgment of party members and the people. It is not proper for him to now entertain presidential ambitions and so he needs to clarify his real intentions as soon as possible regardless of the scandals involving the party’s current presidential candidate.