The main opposition Democratic United Party said Wednesday it has decided to introduce a runoff election in its presidential primary to select its candidate for the December election.
A runoff will be held on Sept. 23 if none of the seven DUP presidential contenders win a majority of the votes in primary elections that are open to registered voters and ordinary citizens, said party spokeswoman Kim Hyun.
The party will hold its primary elections across the country from Aug. 25 to Sept. 16, Kim said.
The announcement came as seven candidates have been jockeying for a position to try to clinch their party's nomination for the presidential election. The seven candidates include Moon Jae-in, a former chief of staff to late President Roh Moo-hyun, former South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Doo-gwan and Sohn Hak-kyu, a special advisor for the DUP.
Moon is widely seen as a serious opposition contender to Park Geun-hye, the leading presidential hopeful of the ruling Saenuri Party and a front-runner in opinion polls for the election.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's single five-year term ends in February and by law, he cannot seek re-election. (Yonhap)