Lee stays far ahead of pack in GNP race

Lee Hoi-chang, former president of the main opposition Grand National Party, solidified his lead over his challengers by winning 54 percent, or 1,112, of the valid votes cast in the Gwangju-South Jeolla province primary Thursday. He was followed by Lee Bu-young, who won 24.9 percent. Representative Choe Byung-yul came in third with 17.9 percent and Representative Rhee Shang-hi was last with 3.3.

Just over 54 percent of the voters registered to vote in the opposition primary turned out. The Jeolla provinces have long been a power base for the ruling Millennium Democratic Party.

Thursday's win puts Mr. Lee far ahead in the overall race with 72.9 percent of the vote. Mr. Choe is in second with 14.8 percent followed by Lee Bu-young with 9.9 percent. Mr. Rhee has won just 2.4 percent so far.

Speaking to the voters gathered for the primary Lee Hoi-chang said, "When I become president I will break the vicious cycle of taking political revenge against my predecessors."

The main opposition party has three more primary votes remaining. The next is Saturday in Gyeonggi province, followed Tuesday by the North Chungcheong province primary and Thursday by the Seoul vote.

But if Lee Hoi-chang maintains his strong lead in the Gyeonggi province vote he would effectively win the party's nomination. If Mr. Lee wins in Gyeonggi province Mr. Choe would still not be able to catch him if he swept both of the last two primaries.

If nominated, Lee Hoi-chang would be making his second presidential bid. He was second in the 1997 presidential election, in which he lost to President Kim Dae-jung by a margin of 390,557 votes.

by Kim Sung-tak