By Yi Whan-woo
A number of loyalists to former President Lee Myung-bak are seeking to run in next year’s general election amid speculation that Lee is preparing to return to the political arena.
Approximately 30 lawmakers, active and retired, attended a year-end party hosted by Lee on Dec. 18 in Seoul.
The guests included those in the pro-Lee faction within the ruling Saenuri Party, such as Reps. Lee Jae-oh, Lee Koon Hyon and Kim Young-woo.
A separate meeting held on Dec. 17 in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, was attended by 40 former Cheong Wa Dae officials who served during Lee’s 2008-2013 term as president.
They included four former presidential chiefs of staff ― Yu Woo-ik, Chung Jung-gil, Yim Tae-hee and Ha Geum-yeol.
Former senior presidential secretary for political affairs Kim Hyo-jae plus Lee’s four former chief press secretaries ― Kim Doo-woo, Hong Sang-pyo, Choi Geum-rak, and Lee Dong-kwan ― also joined.
The party came after Lee took a walk on Dec. 12 with some of his 20 loyalists, including former ministers, alongside the Cheonggyecheon.
The restoration of Cheonggyecheon, a stream that extends through downtown Seoul, is regarded as a legacy of Lee’s term as Seoul mayor before he was elected as president in December 2012.
And four former ministers who served under Lee accompanied him. They were Kang Man-soo of the finance ministry, Yoo In-chon of the culture ministry, Kim Kyung-han of justice ministry and Jeon Jae-hee of health and welfare ministry.
Politics sources said that Yim is preparing to run for the parliamentary seat in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Yim, also served as a three-term lawmaker before joining Lee’s Cabinet.
Lee Dong-kwan is expected to stand as a candidate in Seocho-gu, Seoul, a stronghold of the Saenuri Party.
The district is where loyalists of President Park Geun-hye are preparing to make their election bids for the National Assembly.