Han Declares to Run for Presidency
By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
Former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook declared on Friday that she will run for an open primary of the ruling camp for the upcoming presidential election in December.
``I firmly decided to run for the primary,'' she told reporters in a Tokyo hotel. ``But I'll make an official announcement when the ruling camp's alliances are ready.''
Han said that she will play a stepping stone for the alliance and will meet former chairmen of the pro-government Uri Party, Chung Dong-young and Kim Geun-tae next week to discuss it.
``This is right time for Korea to have a female president,'' Han said. ``A female president will make this country further develop into the group of advanced countries.''
Asked if Sohn Hak-kyu, former Gyeonggi governor, could be a presidential candidate for the ruling camp, she said he could in a broad sense. ``But it's hard to predict now since we haven't met yet,'' she added.