By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Rep. Shin Kook-hwan of the Centrist United Democratic Party announced his presidential bid Thursday.
``I believe that the public demands are to reach a per capita income of $40,000 and to make the nation happier,'' he told a press conference at the National Assembly. ``I am an economy expert who led economic development in the country serving as a public servant.''
The current polarization will settle down if the nation encourages creating jobs in the service industry, he added.
Shin, who passed the civil service examination in 1966, served as minister of commerce, industry and energy between 2000 and 2004.