By Lee Tae-hoon
Staff reporter
Lee Jae-oh, 65, one of President Lee Myung-bak`s closest confidants, hinted at stepping down as head of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) to run in the July 28 National Assembly by-elections.
The former three-term lawmaker of the governing Grand National Party (GNP) left politics after suffering an embarrassing defeat to Moon Kook-hyun, then leader of the minor opposition Creative Korea Party, in the Eunpyeong district, Seoul, in the 2008 parliamentary elections.
"I plan to declare a bid when the time is right," Lee said on a radio program Tuesday. "Once I return to the party, I will faithfully serve the great causes that the GNP is committed to."
He met with President Lee last Friday to express his intention to compete in the by-elections, sources said.
They say Lee will likely resign as chairman of the ACRC later the month.
However, Lee made it clear that he has no desire to be a candidate in the GNP's national convention, which will be held sometime between July 10 and 14 to pick a new party chairman and members of the party's decision-making Supreme Council.
Observers say his decision coincides with President Lee's call for younger, reform-minded politicians' greater participation in the conservative party's leadership race, following the GNP's humiliating defeat in the June 2 local elections.
The ACRC chairman is known as one of the most trusted associates of President Lee.
In 2002, he worked as chief of the campaign headquarters when Lee Myung-bak was running for mayor of Seoul.
Lee also served as GNP secretary general in 2003, floor leader in 2006, and special presidential envoy to Russia in 2008.
He has worked as ACRC chairman since last September.
Eight Assembly seats are up for grabs in the forthcoming elections, including one for the Eunpyeong district as Moon was stripped of his seat last year for taking money in return for promising to provide a proportional representation seat in parliament.
Seven other posts are vacant in constituencies in Incheon, Gwangju, Gangwon and Chungcheong. Six lawmakers quit to run in the last local elections, and one died of cancer earlier this year.