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Accusations fly ahead of Korean presidential race

"Schemes of conspiracy and a blackmail campaign are systematically gearing up, not from outside the party but from inside the party."

Lee Myung-bak, former Seoul mayor

South Korea's presidential race is turning dirty before it has even officially started, with representatives of the two opposition front-runners trading accusations yesterday.

The two top potential candidates from the conservative Grand National Party (GNP) are each way ahead of the ruling party's likely nominee for the election on Dec. 19.

But former Seoul mayor and Hyundai chief exective officer Lee Myung-bak and his rival for the GNP nomination Park Geun-hye are already slugging it out, Yonhap news agency reported.

"I have decisive evidence [of alleged wrongdoing by Lee]. I have evidence that will be sure to anyone and can't be swayed," Chung In-bong, Park's legal adviser and a former GNP lawmaker, told reporters.

He refused to give details but said his information would be passed on to the party leadership when it begins examining the contenders' qualifications late next month.

The GNP is set to held a primary in June to pick its candidate.

Lee's presidential bid has the support of 41 percent, according to a poll by the daily JoongAng Ilbo compiled yesterday. Park, the daughter of former autocratic president Park Chung-hee, has 19.2 percent.

Potential candidates from the ruling Uri party, including former unification minister Chung Dong-young with 2.6 percent, are far behind.

Lee has rejected rumors regarding his wealth.

"Schemes of conspiracy and a blackmail campaign are systematically gearing up, not from outside the party but from inside the party. That is truly regrettable. I can't even recognize whether I'm in the Grand National Party or in the Uri Party," he wrote on his blog on Sunday, which was sent to party members.

Yonhap said Chung, the legal adviser for Park, visited a parliament media room yesterday to respond to Lee's statement.

But it said his microphone was abruptly switched off as he spoke, raising speculation that someone from Lee's camp had turned it off.
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