FACTBOX: South Korea's presidential long-shot Chung
(Reuters) - The candidate from South Korea's ruling United New Democratic Party, Chung Dong-young, is a distant second in polls before the presidential election on Wednesday.
Following are some facts about Chung and his policy positions:
BIOGRAPHY:
- Born July 27, 1953 to a poor family in North Jeolla province.
- Helped his family raise money by working as an assistant for a seamstress.
- Served a short stint in prison for protests against South Korea's authoritarian leaders.
- Graduated from Seoul National University in 1979. Received masters degree from the University of Wales in 1988.
- Joined Munhwa Broadcasting Corp as a journalist and later became a news presenter.
- Elected to parliament in 1996. He later became chairman of the left-leaning, ruling Uri Party.
- Served as unification minister from June 2004 to December 2005. Met North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang.
POLICIES:
- As president, Chung aims to have national growth of 6 percent and create 2.5 million jobs by fostering industries such as aerospace and robotics.
- He wants to cut gasoline taxes, credit card fees and medical expenses to help middle class families. He also wants to reform the education system and reduce education costs.
- Seeks a North-South peace economy by linking South Korea's technology to North Korea's labor.
- Sees the South's economy growing by increasing cooperation projects with impoverished North.
- Seeks a Korean-led peace treaty to be signed by the United States and China to replace the ceasefire that ended the 1950-1953 Korean War, then wants arms reduction with North.
(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Grant McCool)
