Korea's presidential hopefuls on Wednesday took steps to highlight the importance of national unity and economic democracy as they moved to woo voters ahead of the December elections.
Ahn Cheol-soo, the software entrepreneur-turned-politician who formally announced his intention to run for president last Wednesday, visited the grave of late President Roh Moo-hyun in Gimhae, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and paid respects to the chief executive's widow.
Roh, who committed suicide in May 2009 after coming under investigation for alleged bribe-taking by his family, is regarded as an icon by progressives and was a political mentor for Ahn's rival candidate, Rep. Moon Jae-in of the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP).
The trip to the grave, which is a first for Ahn, comes after the 50-year-old founder of AhnLab, the country's largest computer anti-virus firm, paid tribute at the graves of South Korea's first President Rhee Syngman, the authoritarian conservative President Park Chung-hee and the liberal Nobel Peace Prize winner, President Kim Dae-jung.
The latest visit is a sign that Ahn, who is running as an independent and has broad support among young people and those alienated from the country's political parties, is committed to bridging the ideological and social divide that has been the hallmark of the country's politics.
"The visit is an extension of the visit to Seoul's National Cemetery," the contender said. He said there were no words exchanged with President Roh's widow on forming a single opposition candidate with the DUP.
Related to pushing forward measures to seek unity, the ruling Saenuri Party presidential hopeful Park Geun-hye took action to appoint officials who will run her official election camp that will be set up to encompass all facets of society and meet the wishes of the general public.
"The ability to forge unity within the party is critical because this can send a message that Park is serious about pushing forward reconciliation and unity on the national level," a source said. He added that the election camp will be made up of Park's supporters as well as those that have been critical of her in the past.
The party officials said Reps. Nam Kyung-pil and Yoo Seung-min have been tapped to be vice chairmen, while former lawmaker Kim Moo-sung, who had split with Park in the past over the need to move the administrative capital to Sejong, will likely be named to head the election policy planning office.
Nam, a five-term lawmaker, and head of the liberal economic democracy action committee had not been shy about expressing his views toward Saenuri's presidential candidate in the past.
Two others who might join or play a role in the election camp are Reps. Chung Mong-joon and Lee Jae-oh. Both boycotted the party's primary race after Park rejected their calls for an open primary.
DUP presidential contender Moon, meanwhile, met with representatives of small shop owners and city council members, and emphasized the need to push forward economic democracy.
The former chief of staff to late President Roh pledged at the meeting held at Seoul city hall to enact a special law that will help the country's small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
He said that if he is elected president, every effort will be made to ban big conglomerates from encroaching on business areas that are best handled by SMEs.
"Not only will conglomerates be banned, but those already engaged in such businesses will be asked to sell their companies and leave the sector altogether," he said.
He added that actions will be taken to limit large retailers from setting up shops near traditional market places.
The DUP also said Moon plans to create a 40 billion won (US$35.6 million) fund to finance his elections.
"The goal is to attract 80,000-100,000 people to invest in the funds to pay for election expenses that will be reimbursed with interest after the elections," the party said. It said this method can raise transparency for Moon's election campaign. (Yonhap)