By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Moon Kook-hyun, 58, CEO of staple products maker Yuhan-Kimberly, has hinted at opening his presidential bid.
``Civil organizations told me that they will ask businessmen by August or September whether to join political activities or not,'' he told reporters after participating in the inaugural meeting of a forum on climate change at the National Assembly on Monday. ``If there is something that businessmen can do for upgrading Korea, I will do it.''
Moon who is considered a potential presidential candidate to represent liberal forces, will likely gear up preparation for his bid by interacting with politicians, political sources said.
He said those groups have pointed out that entrepreneurs cannot solve social issues while just standing in the background.
``If the civil groups share values for social unity, corporations can't stay away from those values. Business is a party of civil groups,'' he said. ``Political parties and social organizations haven't requested me to join political activities but I will sincerely respond to them for the nation and future, when they suggest.''
Moon and Chung Un-chan, former president of Seoul National University, were considered as potential presidential candidates for a new party which the Uri Party and other liberal forces have been attempting to create.
Chung gave up on the presidential race on April 30.
The forum on climate change is aimed at discussing countermeasures against global warming and yellow dust, the organizers said.
The organization consists of figures from various walks of life, including members of the Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee and Lee Chi-beom, minister for environment.
Underlining that the meeting is to study policies, the organizers denied any allegation that the forum is Moon's possible think-tank.
Political sources, however, said the organization could be turned into his supporters' group if he stands as a presidential candidate.
Moon, a trustee of the conservative civil organization National Trust of Korea, is scheduled to give a lecture on global issues and Korea's future at the Uri Party Foundation, the party's think-tank, next Wednesday, his aides said.