GNP Presidential Hopefuls Launch Campaigning Tour

Former Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak of the Grand National Party (GNP) and former GNP chairwoman Park Geun-hye visited Honam and Yeongnam respectively on Monday.

The two leading presidential candidates of the GNP are planning to make an all out effort to win the hearts of party members through their campaign tours which start from this week.

Lee visited a construction site in Naju, South Jeolla Province, where the Joint Innovative City Project of Gwangju-South Jeolla Province is taking place. “The central government must pay attention and provide support to build innovative cities successfully,” Lee said at the site.

He then went to Jeonju, North Jeolla Province to participate in a ceremony announcing the launch of the North Jeolla Province Election Polling Committee.

“Some negative public opinion on the cross country canal project started with a misunderstanding and a lack of promotion. If I continue to explain the necessity and economic feasibility of the project, I will be able to create a public consensus,” Lee said.

With regard to the Saemangeum reclamation project, he said, “Where can you find a field of 130,000,000 pyeong in Korea?” “We must transform the land into a new driving force of Korea’s development where the world’s capitals flow in.” “If I become president, I’ll make proper use of the precious Saemangeum.”

Lee also decided to focus on restoring his image this week in an attempt to overcome attacks launched under the excuse of candidate verification. He will visit Incheon on Tuesday, Busan, Ulsan and Daegu from Tuesday till Thursday, Gwangju on Friday, and Daejeon on Sunday.

Meanwhile, with regard to wrangling over the verification of credentials for Lee, Park said on Monday, “It must not be seen as mud-sliding. Moreover, legitimate verification process must not be stopped.”

“The ultimate purpose of candidate verification is changing the administration,” Park told reporters after holding a meeting with regional party members of Daegu.

In particular, regarding Lee’s no-response strategy on suspicions raised by the media, Park also said, “Is he telling us that all the media reports are negative (campaigning).” “If those reports are problematic, he should explain to the media that their reports are considered negative (campaigning).”

Park also pointed out the importance of changing the administration during a meeting on that day, saying, “If we unite into one by trusting each other, our dream and the people’s dream will be realized.”

She then participated in a convention held in Daegu in celebration of Women’s Week where she said, “A country where a woman is judged by her ability without experiencing discrimination is a truly advanced country.” Park is expected to tour Incheon and North Chungcheong Province on Tuesday, Busan and Ulsan on Wednesday, Seoul on Thursday, and Gwangju and Jeolla provinces on Friday.

myzodan@donga.com kky@donga.com