South Korea ex-point man for North seeks presidency

SEOUL, July 3 (Reuters) South Korea's former point man on North Korea policy announced today that he would run for president but his chances were slim given the wide lead already taken by the two top candidates.

Polls show South Koreans want a pro-business conservative who will take a hard line on North Korea to be the next president. The election to replace Roh Moo-hyun will be held in December.

The two leading contenders are former Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, the daughter of the assassinated president Park Chung-hee.

Both are from the conservative Grand National Party and together have a support rating of around 70 per cent.

Former Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, a TV anchorman turned politician, told a news conference today that he would pursue pragmatic economic reforms.

''What we need now is a humble and dignified president who does not rule over the people but listens to them and scratches them where they itch and unplugs what is blocked,'' he said.

Chung was at one time the leader of the liberal Uri Party, a pro-government party that once was the leading force in parliament but is now fighting for its life due to the defection of dozens of lawmakers.

Chung and other candidates formerly from Uri or the government are polling at around three percent or lower.

Chung met North Korean leader Kim Jong-il when he was unification minister and often seemed to create problems by backing policies which were seen as appeasing Pyongyang but which ran counter to positions staked by Seoul and Washington.

REUTERS GL VC1002