Right-wing civic activist considering run for Seoul mayor

SEOUL, March 15 (Yonhap) -- A right-wing civic activist said Thursday he's seriously considering the main opposition Liberty Korea Party's proposal to run as its candidate for Seoul mayor in June's local elections.

Lee Seog-yeon, a lawyer-turned civic activist who also served as minister of government legislation during the administration of former President Lee Myung-bak, said the party's leader, Hong Joon-pyo, made him the offer right after last month's Lunar New Year's Day holidays.

"I received a formal request from the LKP," Lee said "The biggest cause (for my candidacy) would be to restore reasonable centrist conservatives. That's why I'm thinking about it seriously."

Lee claimed that South Korea is now lopsided toward liberals and there's no place for conservatives to stand.

"Centrist conservatives and right-wing forces should be rebuilt in whatever way is possible. I'm willing to play a role," Lee said. "I've been meeting with political elders in the conservative circles to get their advice."

Should Lee accept the offer, the LKP is expected to nominate him without a primary.

Sources said Lee plans to notify the party of his decision by as early as next week.

If Lee decides to run, he would be pitted against incumbent mayor, Park Won-soon, who also gained fame as a lawyer-turned civic activist before becoming mayor in 2011. The Lee-Park race would gain extra attention as a match between conservative and liberal activists.

(END)