By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Former Chairman Chung Dong-young of the pro-government Uri Party declared his presidential bid Tuesday, vowing to tread a middle path.
``It is time for the nation to have a president who can unite the public by listening to them and solving their problems,'' Chung, 54, told a press conference in Seoul. ``I will open a new era of a humble leader, unlike previous authoritarian presidents.''
Chung, who also served as minister of unification between 2004 and 2005, presented ``the three middles'' as his keyword for campaign pledges.
A two-term lawmaker, Chung said he would endeavor to increase the middle class to 70 percent of the total population during a five-year tenure as president.
The ratio of the middle class reached 65 percent of the population before an Asian financial crisis hit the country in 1997 but the figure decreased to 50 percent a decade later, he said.
A former MBC anchorman, Chung said that more opportunities of education and vocational training will help low-income families become middle class.
Stressing the importance of small- and medium-sized companies, Chung said those firms can offer more jobs to people when the government lends its full support.
Those companies are a bowl that can carry people's dream to attain middle-class incomes, he said.
The presidential contender emphasized the need for a president to remain objective in unifying the nation, leaning toward no factions.
``Neither leftists nor rightists can be an alternative for national unity,'' Chung said. ``With principles of moderation, I will devote myself to the development of Korea.''
Despite his efforts in the run-up to the December 19 presidential election, his popularity has hovered around a single digit in opinion polls.
Chung began his political career in 1996 when he was elected to the 15th National Assembly.
He is a co-founder of the Uri Party and served as its chairman from February to June in 2006. However, he left the party on June 18, criticizing both the Uri Party and President Roh Moo-hyun.
Chung and five other presidential contenders from liberal groups are scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss ways of achieving a coalition, and a method for selecting a single pro-government candidate to run in the election. The meeting is being arranged by former Uri Chairman Kim Geun-tae.
The five other attendees are former Prime Ministers Lee Hae-chan and Han Myeong-sook; former Gyeonggi Governor Sohn Hak-kyu; and Reps. Kim Hyuk-kyu and Chun Jung-bae.
Discussions will focus on the formation of a grand coalition of liberal groups and selecting a single candidate to defeat the standard-bearer of the main opposition Grand National Party, which is enjoying large popularity, their aides said.
A pre-race in August will narrow down the candidate list and the liberal groups will select a presidential candidate on
A pre-race in August will narrow the candidate list and the liberal groups will select a presidential candidate on Oct. 9, they said.
It would be difficult for the presidential hopefuls to agree on rules for the primary because they have a different base of support, the aides said.