With less than SIX months to go until people here in Korea head to the polls to elect a new president, candidates from both the ruling and opposition parties are gearing up for the party primaries by announcing their bids and outlining their policy goals.

The ruling Saenuri Party's presidential front-runner Park Geun-hye officially announced her presidential bid in downtown Seoul today.
Our political correspondent Lee Ji-yoon was there at the scene and joins us now from our news center.
Good evening, Ji-yoon.

[Reporter : ] Good to see you two.
And as Daniel said, the ruling party's leading presidential candidate Park Geun-hye made her desire to run for president official today, at Times Square in Youngdeungpo, Seoul.
Hundreds of people were there to listen to what she had to say, about what SHE hopes to achieve, IF elected Korea's next president on December 19th.


She's thrown her hat into the ring.
The ruling Saenuri Party's leading presidential candidate Park Geun-hye officially announced her candidacy on Tuesday.
Park's announcement comes just a week after she opened her presidential campaign office in a bid to become Korea's FIRST female president.
She's been leading recent opinion polls and is credited for successfully steering the ruling party to victory in the April general elections.
Surrounded by over a thousand people Tuesday, Park promised to lead a country that invests in the happiness of ordinary citizens.


[Interview : Park Geun-hye, Presidential candidate
Saenuri Party] "I will make economic democratization, job creation and improving social welfare the three major tasks I address."

In speaking of economic democratization, Park was referring to balanced support for small and mid-sized businesses competing against large corporations and the creation of a fairer economy.
Park is currently leading the polls with approval ratings of close to 40 percent.
The Saenuri Party starts registering candidates on Tuesday, and Park, along with the other party's presidential candidates, will begin campaigning next Saturday.
The presidential primary is scheduled to take place August 20th.


[Reporter : Lee Ji-yoon, jiyoonjlee@arirang.co.kr] "Attention is now focused on whether popular software tycoon Ahn Cheol-soo will decide to run for president, as Park and Ahn were neck-and-neck in recent opinion polls.
Lee Ji-yoon, Arirang News."

Reporter : jiyoonjlee@arirang.co.kr