Former GNP Chief Indecisive about Presidential Run

“I haven’t changed my mind about presidency,” former Grand National Party (GNP) chief Lee Hoi-chang said three days ago. “I will talk about it later,” he said two days ago. “So far, I haven’t changed my mind,” he said yesterday.

Lee was responding to the question of whether he would run for president in each instance.

At the Dokdo Day ceremony yesterday at the Daewoo Foundation building, Jung-gu, Seoul, he said, “I have not changed my mind yet.” This means what he said on January 1 this year still holds for the time being, but it may change.

This indecisiveness, combined with his aides encouraging him to run for president, have sparked rumors that he may do just that.

What Is His True Intention?-

In and out of the GNP, lawmakers are busy trying to ascertain the true intention of the former GNP chief. His close aides think that Lee still has not given up hope. Some in the party think that Lee has already begun campaigning to become president.

Rumors have it that Lee asked Mr. L, one of his supporters before, for help before he was turned down, Lee’s sponsor, Buguk (meaning “wealth of a nation”), is planning a national tour, and Mr. L is trying to forge an alliance with Park Geun-hye. Some even say that former GNP leader Lee wanted to mobilize participants for the “Public Convention to Secure the ROK,” that was held on October 24.

However, opinions vary as to when Lee will announce his candidacy. Insiders say, “Lee may not run for president. He just wants to show that he is still active to party members and those who are running for the party primary. Lee is a cautious person, so he will not likely run for president.”

Rumors are flying because Lee has not elucidated his thoughts on his candidacy. The scenario of Lee becoming a presidential candidate was raised due to the possibility of Lee Myung-bak becoming illegible as a presidential candidate. One of the former GNP leader’s close aides said, “Due to a fatal flaw, Lee thinks that the former Seoul mayor will not win the election, which will lead to a victory for the leftist party, which is a reason why Lee cannot give up easily.”

Lee and Lee-

The former party chief became one of the major rivals to Lee Myung-bak when he gave a special political lecture last October. Since then, Lee have said, targeting the former Seoul mayor, “My approval ratings were high, but I was victimized by negative remarks aimed at me by my opponents. Promises to turn the economy around will not lead to victory.”

Lee mediated between the former Seoul mayor and Park Geun-hye when they were arguing over primary rules, but after Lee became the GNP presidential candidate and failed to become an advisor for the party election committee, the relationship between the two Lees deteriorated quickly. Lee Myung-bak said the he never offered Lee the post, but Lee responded with anger and said, “He should not tell such an outrageous lie.”

Lee’s Remarks-

After Lee lost in the 2002 presidential election, he cried and said that he would leave politics. Last December at the ‘GNP Forum’ held by the party central committee and in regard to him receiving illegal election funds in 2002, he said, “The party sustained pain and suffering. That was wrong and I am to blame for everything.”

At a press conference on the first day of the year, he said, “I am not in a position to say things about the presidential election. I have no intention of participating in real politics,” effectively expressing his mind about the election at the time.

mhpark@donga.com