By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
Kim Doo-kwan, often dubbed ``Little Roh Moo-hyun,'' announced his bid on Wednesday for presidency, pledging to seize public support from members of the opposition Grand National Party (GNP).
Kim, who is considered a close confidant of President Roh, served as minister of government administration and home affairs in 2003 and presidential secretary for political affairs between 2005 and 2006.
He also belonged to the five-member decision-making body of the pro-government Uri Party in 2006.
Kim said, ``I will totally revamp this country if elected the first president by former village representatives nationwide.''
He also said, ``The public will see who is more reformative and progressive. I will be waiting for choices of the nationals with my competency.''
He vowed to make 70 percent of the nationals become middle-income earners and resolve the serious income disparity between the haves and have-nots.
Korea could become a developed country by achieving the goal of $30,000 in per capita income if he takes office as the next president, he added.
Kim, 48, served as a representative of a village in Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province, where he was born before being elected as chief of Namhae County in the 1995 and 1998 local elections.
He earned good grades for stimulating the local economy. He has been dubbed ``Little Roh Moo-hyun'' because of his humble background and because he became a home affairs minister as soon as Roh became President in February 2003. But he was ousted amid the main opposition GNP-led no-confidence mode in September 2003.
Except for Rhyu Si-min, pro-Roh Moo-hyun figures including Han Myeong-sook, Lee Hae-chan, Kim Hyuk-kyu and Shin Ki-nam have already thrown their hats into the ring for a pro-government presidential candidate.