Contenders Call for Screening of Sohn Hak-kyu
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Six possible presidential contenders of the pro-government camp called for the screening of former Gyeonggi Governor Sohn Hak-kyu, who is in first place in polls among presidential aspirants of the group.
As the seven contenders _ including Sohn _ agreed Thursday on a roadmap for a primary race, a power struggle to grab the pro-government camp's presidential ticket has begun in earnest.
The remaining six contenders who have declared their bid for the presidency are Chung Dong-young, former chairman of the Uri Party; former Prime Ministers Han Myeong-sook and Lee Hae-chan; Rep. Kim Hyuk-kyu of the Uri Party; former Minister of Justice Chun Jung-bae; and former Minister of Government Administration and Home Affairs Kim Doo-kwan.
Thursday's agreement said that the nationwide open primary will start from Sept. 15 and the pro-government camp will have a party candidate by Oct. 14.
Kim Doo-kwan led the attack against the former Gyeonggi governor.
``Sohn was critical about the overall policy posture of the incumbent Roh Moo-hyun administration, while he was in the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP). He does not deserve to be a candidate of the pro-government group,'' said Kim.
Han Myeong-sook joined the attack.
``I respect his decision of joining the pro-government camp but he should be thoroughly screened if he is to qualify to become a presidential candidate,'' she said.
Two factors seem to be playing out behind the growing attacks on Sohn.
The first and foremost factor is that former President Kim Dae-jung backs him as the presidential candidate of the pro-government group.
The former president has actively expressed his views on the next presidency and his endorsement is considered one of core elements to determine the candidate of the pro-government camp.
The second factor is that Sohn is topping polls for the presidential candidate among pro-government contenders and his support is more than double the runner-up's.
In a recent poll conducted on July 14 by the Korea Research Center, his support was 7.6 percent.
He is third in popularity, following the two GNP hopefuls __Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, but he is far ahead of other contenders in the pro-government camp.
Support for Chung Dong-young was 2.8 percent, and that of Lee Hae-chan, 2.1 percent in the poll.
These factors __ the former president's endorsement and Sohn's popularity __ are seemingly putting pressure on the remaining contenders.
Facing criticism, Sohn said it is time to focus on a winning strategy, instead of producing consuming debates.
Sohn elaborated on the reasons he left the GNP saying, ``I was discouraged from pursuing my dreams and political goals in the GNP and decided to defect from the party.''
Sohn called the main opposition party ``retroactive.''
He joined the primary race of the pro-government camp on June 25 and his joining the camp put a strain on the existing contenders.