election Chung Named Presidential Nominee
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Former Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young won the United New Democratic Party's (UNDP) nomination to run in the December presidential election, Monday, after a month-long primary race marred by a low turnout and alleged vote buying.
Chung, a television anchor-turned-politician,now, faces an uphill battle against Lee Myung-bak of the conservative Grand National Party (GNP), who commands a strong lead with support of about 50 percent in opinion polls. Chung's latest rating stood at slightly over 14 percent.
In his acceptance speech, Chung stressed the internal unity needed to win the election and establish a unified government.
He expressed confidence in defeating the former Seoul Mayor Lee whom he described as the candidate espousing ``jungle capitalism and distorted capitalism.''
Chung said that his presidency will seek ``growth that does not discriminate against any one to usher in an era of promoting family happiness and globalization that entail few dropouts.''
The former anchorman said he will promote economic growth through active peace on the Korean Peninsula. He added that his presidency would seek ways to liquidate the Cold War structure, including the replacement of the current cease-fire accord with a peace agreement.
Chung said his presidency will engineer a renaissance of manufacturing on the Korean Peninsula by encouraging southern businessmen to set up plants in the North where labor costs are cheap.
He says Sweden and Ireland are models for Korea to emulate, vowing to ease the four Korean woes of joblessness, post-retirement life, private education costs and housing shortages.
Chung said instead of digging canals, he will foster the aerospace industry, and promote happiness in the family as the source of national power and vitality.
The presidential office did not issue any comment to welcome Chung's win. Chung has said his relations with President Roh Moo-hyun soured this year after Roh sought to dissuade him from seeking the UNDP nomination.
However, the opposition GNP is seeking to brand Chung as a ``sycophant'' to Roh whom it described as a ``failed president.''
Former Gyeonggi Governor Sohn Hak-kyu, who ranked second in the race, accepted his defeat and pledged his support for Chung.
Sohn said, ``I will do my utmost to help pro-democracy, peace-loving and reformist forces attain a victory in the presidential election. I will shoulder any heavy burden.''
Former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, who was reportedly backed by Roh, also vowed to help Chung.
Lee said he humbly accepts the ``great choice.'' He expressed the hope that a Chung government would make Korea an advanced, welfare nation.
In the primary race, Chung won 216,984 or 43.7 percent of 495,911 total eligible votes, followed by Sohn with 168,799 votes or 34 percent percent and Lee with 110,128 votes or 22.2 percent.
The turnout for the eight rounds of off-line voting stood at 16.2 percent to 20 percent, while that of mobile phone voting was around 75 percent.
Chung also faces a task of making a compromise on fielding a unified candidate to defeat the GNP nominee, with minor parties, including the Democratic Party (DP), and independent candidate Moon Kook-hyun.
Rep. Rhee In-je, 59, is expected to be formally named Tuesday as the DP nominee.
Chung said he will discuss the matter of a unified liberal candidate with them but each group claims its candidate should be the standard-bearer.
Moon, the former CEO of staple product maker Yuhan-Kimberly, has emerged as a dark horse with his image of a corruption-free business leader, while the UNDP was suffering from internal feuding over campaign illegalities.