EAST ASIA NOTES: SOUTH KOREA: PRESIDENTIAL RACE BEGINS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06888069
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: September 9, 2021
• Case Number: F-2019-02096
• Publication Date: June 10, 1992

Approved for Release: 2021/08/23 C06888069
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Directorate of Intelligence
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10 June 1992
East Asia Notes: South Korea: Presidential Race Begins
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South Korea's three major presidential hopefuls are
already launching their campaigns for this
election, and the race is likely to be intense.
Democratic Liberal Party candidate Kim Young Sam's
biggest challenge will be to unify the ruling party
behind him. Kim faced stiff resistance to his
nomination from the members of two other factions,
and his rival for the nomination is hinting he may yet
run as an independent. Kim is trying to mend fences in
the DLP by appointing some of his rivals to party posts
as he puts together his campaign, according to press
reports. At the same time, he must work to reassure
the public he can handle major issues.
Kim Dae Jung�candidate of the largest opposition
party�is campaigning hard on economic themes, but
he must overcome his reputation as a leftist who
cannot win outside his home province. Kim is trying
to moderate his image by recruiting former Army
officers to join his party and endorsing the continued
presence of US troops in South Korea even after
reunification, according to press reports. Kim
contends his party's strong showing in Seoul in the
March National Assembly e ertinn nroves he is nnt
merely a regional candidate.
Meanwhile, Chung Ju Yung--the former Hyundai
chairman who formed the Unification National Party
in January--is the new face in the campaign who must
convince voters he is a viable candidate. Chungis
party won a surprising 17 percent of the vote in the
Assembly election, and the billionaire has the money
and organization to run a strong national campaign. In
Produced by
Office of East Asian Analysis. Comments and queries are
wolrenno and mat) he, dinvetod in du, Chief, NEA Division, DEA,
recent speeches, Chung has stressed his business
acumen will enable him to strengthen South Korea's
economy, but it is unclear if his experience will be an
asset or a liability with voters. Many South Koreans
resent the power of conglomerates such as
and fear Chung would coddle big business.
The presidential vote must be held between
17 December 1992 and 25 January 1993--an exact date
will be selected after interparty consultations--and a
clear frontrunner has not yet emerged in opinion polls.
Ruling party candidate Kim Young Sam undoubtedly
hopes the public's traditional desire for stability will
work to his advantage. Chung Ju Yung will try to
boost his prospects by exploiting widespread public
sentiment that it is time for the "two Kims" to retire
from politics. For his part, Kim Dae Jung may
calculate Chung Ju Yung will draw enough votes away
from the ruling party to enable him to win with a
plurality of votes in the multicandidate race.
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Approved for Release: 2021/08/23 C06888069
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