The elder Park, who seized power through a 1961 coup, is accused by some of being a dictator who suppressed dissidents with his iron-

fisted rule until his assassination in 1979. But others respect him for an economic development drive that resulted in the creation of the world's 10th-largest economy.

Front runner Lee Myung Bak, a former CEO of an affiliate of industrial giant Hyundai who is also seeking the GNP's nomination, declared his candidacy later yesterday.

Mr Lee called for unity among splintered party members so as to win back power from the liberals, who have ruled the country for almost a decade. The former Seoul mayor also vowed to revive the sagging economy.

He leads Ms Park in opinion polls, but recent surveys show the gap is shrinking.

A Gallup Korea survey for Chosun Ilbo newspaper last Saturday showed that 41 per cent supported Mr Lee and 25 per cent backed Ms Park.

Ms Park pledged to cut taxes, create jobs and reduce the size of the government. She also vowed to resolve the dispute over the North's nuclear programme and establish peace on the Korean peninsula to lay the foundation for the reunification of the two Koreas.

The two candidates have been at odds over how the GNP should nominate its presidential candidate for the Dec 19 polls, raising speculation one might leave the party before the nomination is announced to run as an independent.

Election laws forbid a candidate who has failed to win a party nomination from running either with another party or as an independent during the presidential campaign that year.

ASSOCIATED PRESS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE