election Will Lee Hoi-chang Bid for Presidency for Third Time?
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
A group of supporters for former opposition leader Lee Hoi-chang plan to hold a rally calling for Lee's run for the Dec. 19 presidential election Tuesday, the group's representatives said.
The move comes amid speculations that Lee, former chairman of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP), could participate in the presidential race as an independent.
The supporters said they will stage a hunger strike unless Lee accepts their plea.
Chances for Lee's third presidential bids are slim, political pundits say.
Asked about his joining in the election, Lee neither confirmed nor denied the rumor last Friday, saying, ``My position remains unchanged. I think we have to join forces to achieve a turnover of political power.''
GNP presidential candidate Lee Myung-bak downplayed Lee Hoi-chang's Cheong Wa Dae bid.
``Do I have another competitor? But I don't think he will run for the election,'' said the former Seoul Mayor.
Lee Hoi-chang served as chief of the National Election Commission and the Board of Audit and Inspection between 1988 and 1993.
In 1996, he led the parliamentary campaign of the then-ruling New Korea Party, which merged with another party to become the current Grand National Party in 1997.
In the 1997 election, he lost to Kim Dae-jung on the now-defunct Millenium Democrtic Party (MDP), largely affected by accusations that his two sons dodged compulsory military service. The allegations made by Kim Dae-up, who had a connection with MDP politicians, later turned out to be falsed.
Lee sought to win the presidenncy in 2002. Despite higher pre-election approval ratings, he again lost to Roh Moo-hyun on the MDP's ticket, who successfully merged with a political party led by Chung Mong-joon, vice president of FIFA, the world governing body of soccer.
Lee subsequently announced retirement from politics.