Presidential Candidates Rising to Surface

The political circle is riding on very stormy seas as presidential hopefuls are taking the moves.

Roh Mu-hyun, presidential candidate of the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP), yesterday appointed Chung Dae-chul, supreme councilor of the party as chairman of the presidential campaign committee criticizing the move by anti-Roh party members to create a new party. Ron said that he would push ahead with the inauguration of the presidential campaign committee on the 18th.

Lee Han-dong, former prime minister formally announced hir bid for presidency in his special lecture organized by the Korean Journalist Federation (KFJ).

Meanwhile, independent lawmaker Chung Mong-jun is expected to hold a press conference today and to announce his bid for presidency and the creation of a new party, indicating that a number of candidates will compete for presidency.

Regarding the discussion in a press conference yesterday, "Why should we field a single candidate when the MDP already has a presidential candidate? Discussion abut fielding a single candidate would not bring up my popularity. Fielding a single candidate and creating a new party encompassing relevant political forces will not take place without my determination."

However, MDP lawmakers, who are determined to breaking away and creating a new party, said they would form a committee to promote the creation of a new party outside the MDP and to take legal steps for it.

"The efforts to push for the creation of a new party have been frustrated," said Rep. Kim Young-bae, chairman for the committee for the creation of a new party, announcing the dissolution of the committee.

Kim said, "The promotion of creating a new party encompassing relevant figures with vested interests remaining intact has become impossible. Now a new party will be made possible if informally promoted," expressing his support for the creation of a new party promoted by the anti-Roh faction, which is expected to break away from the MDP anytime soon.

After announcing his bid for presidency, Lee Han-dong, former prime minister, said, "The likelihood is very high that the MDP, the United Liberal Democrats, the Korean Coalition for the Future, the Democratic People`s Party, Rep Chung Mong-jun and I are highly likely to rally behind a single party. I will bend over backwards to become a presidential candidate of a new party through a bona find competition with whoever the rival will be. I have also prepared for the creation of my own party in case that I might not become the presidential candidate of a new party."

Rep. Chung Mong-jun is expected to hold a press conference today afternoon and uphold the value of `bipartisan politics` and `public consensus` through his statement. He is also reported to make comment on ways to shed his holdings in Hyundai Heavy Industries, where he is serving as a majority shareholder and advisor.

Jeong-Hun Kim Hyung-gwon Pu jnghn@donga.com bookum90@donga.com