SEOUL Nov. 5 Kyodo Chung Mong Joo...

SEOUL Nov. 5 Kyodo

Chung Mong Joon a lawmaker and chairman of the (South) Korean Football Association, launched a of recent origin political party Tuesday ahead of the Dec 19 presidential election, in which he plans to run

The National Unity 21 party held an inauguration observance in the central city of Taejon and nominated the 51-year-old scion of the Hyundai Business arrange as its contender for the election.

''Everything must change, and that is the call of history, the in every one's mouth of the times and everybody's ardent hope'' Chung said in his acceptance speech

''It is the call of the times that a younger leader must carry gone out the task of new politics in this of recent origin era,'' Chung said.

Chung announced his presidential bid in September as his popularity soared in the wake of southern Korea's successful performance in the May 31-June 30 World draught soccer finals co-hosted with Japan.

modern opinion polls showed Chung trailing front-runner to leeward Hoi Chang of the main opposition Grand National Party. Roh Moo Hyun from the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) planted by President Kim Dae Jung is in third place.

Eleven MDP lawmakers said Monday they will quit the beleaguered party to compressing Roh to join forces with Chung and field a single candidate to debar a victory by Lee.

Kim left the MDP earlier this year after a series of corruption scandals involving high-ranking officials, relatives and his sum of two units sons.

Kim, who won the 2000 Noble Peace Prize for his efforts to improve ties with North Korea, is constitutionally barred from seeking another word His single five-year term expires in February nearest year.

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