Park vows change at launch of new party

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Park vows change at launch of new party

Park Geun-hye, a legislator and daughter of former President Park Chung Hee, on Friday officially launched her new political party, the Korean Coalition for the Future. The 49-year-old Ms. Park was elected as chairman at the kickoff convention held in Jamsil, southern Seoul.

"I will create another 'Miracle on the Han River,'" Ms. Park said, referring to the double-digit economic growth spurred by her father from 1962 until he was assassinated in 1979.

"We will field a candidate in the December presidential election and will win," she said emphatically, after announcing that party candidates would also run in the June 13 local elections.

Speculation about her presidential ambitions has been high since she left the Grand National Party in January after repeatedly butting heads with then-party president and now presidential nominee Lee Hoi-chang.

"It is necessary to reshape the political landscape for a new party of reform," Ms. Park said. As she claimed to hold the power to redefine Korean politics, observers said they are waiting to see if Kim Jong-pil, leader of the United Liberal Democrats, Representative Rhee In-je of the Millennium Democratic Party and independent Representative Chung Mong-joon will align themselves with her new party.

In opinion polls roughly 10 percent of voters said they would choose Ms. Park in three-way presidential race with Roh Moo-hyun, the Millennium Democrats' presidential candidate, and Mr. Lee of the Grand National Party.

In its manifesto the party pledged to amend the constitution to allow for presidential reelection and a vice-presidency and vowed to foster a free market economy.

by Ko Jung-ae

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