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)