South Korea's troubled president seeks rival as PM

By Lee Suwan

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's unpopular president has approached his main rival in his ruling conservative party to be prime minister to stem anger over policies that have triggered mass street protests.

The rallies calling for President Lee Myung-bak's ouster after barely three months in office were sparked by a public outcry over a deal to open South Korea's market wider to U.S. beef, and have cast a cloud over his plans for pro-business reforms.

Lee has unofficially called on Park Geun-hye, his rival for control of the conservative Grand National Party (GNP), to be his prime minister, an aide close to Park told Reuters on Wednesday.

"There is a chance she could accept if a formal request is made because the situation is so difficult," said the aide, who asked not to be named.

Calling for her help now can be seen as a humbling admission that he needs her strong network of supporters and skill at managing political affairs to fix his government, analysts said.

Lee said at a meeting of small- and medium-sized business owners: "I am determined to make a fresh start."

Park, a former GNP chair and daughter of an assassinated dictator, is expected to bring a steadying hand to Lee's government, roundly criticized for bungling the U.S. beef import deal and being out of touch with public sentiment, analysts said.

Relations between Lee and experienced GNP insider Park have been frosty since the two battled it out last year for the party's presidential nomination.

"The Park Geun-hye card is an essential one to play now because nobody is trying to listen to his voice any more," said Choi Jin, the chief of the Institute for Presidential Leadership.

The post of prime minister has mostly been ceremonial, but under previous president Roh Moo-hyun, the premier became the point person for pushing legislation through parliament.

BIGGEST RALLY

In what was described by local media as the biggest demonstration in the capital in about 20 years, tens of thousands marched on Tuesday night chanting "Lee Myung-bak Out".

Former construction boss Lee won the December presidential election on the strength of his can-do image.

But this has now become his liability. The public sees him as so focused on his own plans he ignores their needs, analysts say.

Political science professor Kang Won-taek said high-speed communication in the world's most wired country had allowed the anti-government message to reach wide sections of society.