Minor party candidate Lee quits presidential race

Lee Jung-hee (photo) of the minor opposition United Progressive Party on Sunday dropped out of the presidential race three days before the election. The race thus has turned into a confrontation between the conservative and liberal camps.

Park Geun-hye, the presidential candidate of the conservative ruling Saenuri Party, and Moon Jae-in, her rival from the main opposition Democratic United Party, are neck and neck in the polls within the margin of error. Lee`s withdrawal is expected to be a factor in the election`s dynamics despite Lee`s support standing at meager 1 percent. Lee`s party is under fire, however, for taking government election subsidies of 2.7 billion won (2.51 million dollars) in spite of her withdrawal. Under law, the party has no legal obligation to return the funds.

In a news conference at the National Assembly in the morning, Lee said, “I resign from my candidacy to fulfill the people’s desire for a change in power.” She blasted Park for being the descendant of a pro-Japanese group when Korea was under Japanese colonial rule and "the root of an old and corrupt dictatorship."

Lee did not specifically mention support for Moon, but Kim Mi-hee, the progressive party`s spokeswoman, told reporters, “The people would think so." Kim ruled out the party giving back the subsidies, saying, “There`s no law on returning the subsidies even if a candidate drops out of the race. We’ll go by the law.”

Park`s camp was quick to criticize Lee, saying, “The progressive party formed an alliance with a pro-North Korea militant group.” Kim Moo-sung, the chief executive of Park`s campaign, told a news conference, “The Democratic United Party held hands with a pro-North Korea group again.” Ruling party spokesman Lee Sang-il said, “The Unified Progressive Party, which doesn`t sing the national anthem or makes a pledge of allegiance, will have a significant impact on Moon`s camp.”

The Democratic United Party stressed no relation to Lee’s withdrawal from the presidential race. Park Gwang-on, spokesman of Moon`s camp, said, “We see it as a serious decision by her reflecting the people’s desire for a change in power.”

jin0619@donga.com