Presidential Candidates Raise Voices against Lee Myung-bak

Former Grand National Party (GNP) chairman Lee Hoi-chang strongly criticized presidential GNP candidate Lee Myung-bak on Sunday. “The entire GNP has turned into a hostage because of one candidate`s blunder,” Lee Hoi-chang said. Meanwhile, United New Democratic Party presidential candidate Chung Dong-young, who visited the Federation of Korean Trade Unions` Busan branch yesterday, also told reporters, “None of the candidates who had faith in the general trend was elected president.”

“Why should the GNP be stigmatized and go through so much trouble?” Lee Hoi-chang said yesterday in a seminar hosted by the Hangil Club in Masan, South Gyeongsang Province. This was the first time for the former GNP leader to mention Lee Myung-bak’s name in criticizing him.

“The GNP nominee has been involved in endless disputes over the violation of the law and numerous suspicions such as falsely registering his address dozens of times, falsely employing his children, and acquisition of assets by abusing the law. It is unprecedented that a presidential candidate’s suspicions have become the talk of the town all over the country,” Lee Hoi-chang said.

Moreover, Lee Hoi-chang took issue with the former Seoul mayor’s inter-Korean policies, saying, “Lee Myung-bak’s policies are almost identical to those of President Roh Moo-hyun. The GNP candidate is neither a conservative nor a liberal. He is merely a politician who changes his words and positions as he likes depending on the situation.”

In addition, with regard to Lee Myung-bak’s remark that it is impossible to agree on a single candidate as Lee Hoi-chang, in a debate hosted by the Korea Broadcasting Journalists Club, the former GNP leader expressed his discomfort, saying, “That is just his wishful thinking.”

Lee Hoi-chang also dismissed the possibility of dropping out of the race. “The dice has already been cast, and it has already crossed the Rubicon River. There are no other paths remaining, except for a path leading forward. Unless I make a firm decision and take the initiative, I have no other reason to live.”

In the meantime, some 40 GNP party members and central committee members held a press conference yesterday at the Lee Hoi-chang camp office, Namdaemun-ro, downtown Seoul, to declare their intention to bolt from the GNP and support Lee Hoi-chang.

Chung Dong-young, at the Federation of Korean Trade Unions` Busan office, also said, “If a candidate depends on the general trend, he will ignore the voice of the people. A CEO’s mission is pursuing profit. If there is an obstacle that prevents the making of profits, he or she will remove it. However, if one runs a country with the mindset of a CEO, the country will be riddled with confrontations, exclusion and alienation.”

Chung, who also visited Soosung Airframe, an aircraft part manufacturing company in Changwon, later on the day, said in a discussion with its employees, “President Park Jung-hee created the Changwon Industrial Complex, the shipbuilding and auto industries in the wilderness. We must take another leap forward based on this foundation.”

Meanwhile, Create Korea Party presidential candidate Mun Guk-hyeon, who visited the Malbawoo market, Doam-dong, Gwangju, in the morning, said, “Discussing unifying candidates is murdering the future of Korea. (Chung who proposed unifying candidates) must explain the situation to the people first and show his sincere apology with action.”

Democratic Party presidential candidate Rhee In-je, who participated in a televised debate on the Gangwon Television Broadcasting in Chuncheon, said, “All of the previous administrations followed a small portion of their election promises because the elected candidates were swayed by conflicting interests between the regions. However, (if I become president) I will be able to follow the pledges concerning Gangwon Province without any problems.”

With regard to meeting Lee Hoi-chang to discuss the possibility of forming a coalition, People First Party presidential candidate Shim Dae-pyeong said at a press conference held yesterday at the party headquarters, “I believe if it is necessary, it will soon take place. I hope we are on the same wavelength and reach an agreement.

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