Daughter of assassinated South Korean leader announces presidential bid

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEOUL, South Korea — The eldest daughter of a late military-backed South Korean president has declared her presidential bid by promising to try to promote peace with rival North Korea.

A former leader of the conservative ruling Saenuri Party, Park Geun-hye is the front-runner in opinion surveys ahead of December’s presidential elections.

Her father Park Chung-hee ruled South Korea for 18 years with an iron-fist until he was assassinated by his intelligence chief in 1979. But his supporters respect the elder Park for leading South Korea’s meteoric economic rise from the ashes of the 1950-53 Korean War.

Park Geun-hye told supporters Tuesday she would focus on establishing trust with North Korea and defusing tension on Pyongyang’s nuclear program if she becomes president.

President Lee Myung-bak is barred by law from seeking re-election.

22:54ET 09-07-12