Rival parties recruit former Samsung, Hyundai executives ahead of elections

In the left photo, main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Rep. Lee Jae-myung, left, shakes hands with former Hyundai Motor President Kong Young-woon, during a welcoming ceremony at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Monday. In the right photo, ruling People Power Party interim leader Han Dong-hoon, right, poses with former Samsung Electronics President Koh Dong-jin, also at the Assembly, Monday. The rival parties recruited the former executives of Korea's two biggest businesses as part of their bids to embrace fresh figures in their campaigns for the April general elections. Yonhap

The ruling and the main opposition parties on Monday announced the recruitment of a former Samsung Electronics executive and a former Hyundai Motor executive, respectively, as talents for April's general elections.

Koh Dong-jin, a former president of Samsung Electronics known for boosting the Samsung Galaxy brand, joined the ruling People Power Party (PPP), while Kong Young-woon, a former president at Hyundai Motor, joined the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).

During a welcoming ceremony at the National Assembly, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon took out a Galaxy smartphone, instead of the iPhone he usually uses, and took a selfie with Koh. Party officials said Han has tried hard to recruit Koh.

"(Koh) is a symbol of the Republic of Korea's IT development over the past 40 years," Han said of the progress Korea has made in the information technology sector. "He is the one who elevated the Galaxy so that its ad in Times Square in New York can continue to remain there."

Koh is widely expected to run for a parliamentary seat in Suwon, south of Seoul, considered home to Samsung Electronics, but Koh declined to give further details, saying the matter is something to be reviewed after discussions with the party's leadership.

On the same day, the DPK recruited Kong Young-woon.

The journalist-turned-businessman spearheaded the establishment of an overseas policy team at Hyundai Motor that helped the carmaker secure a stable supply chain network and effectively respond to global issues, the DPK said.

"We have to recruit people like former President Kong, who realized big achievements in the economy, and have them play big roles in policymaking and lawmaking," DPK Chairman Lee Jae-myung said. "I hope he will play a big role in the areas of production base and business policy."

Kong said he wants to run for parliament and will decide on a constituency after discussions with the party. (Yonhap)