Fmr. DP leader Lee Jae-myung outlines campaign vision in run for presidency

We start here on the local front where the former head of the Democratic Party shared his vision for South Korea as a potential global leader.

Our correspondent Shin Ha-young reports.

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, now a preliminary presidential candidate, has pledged to make South Korea a "first mover" on the global stage.

Lee laid out his campaign vision for a new government at the National Assembly on Friday, elaborating on the "K-Initiative" he introduced during his candidacy announcement the day before.

He explained that while South Korea grew by emulating the successes of other countries, there are no clear models or answers to follow.

"I will take South Korea into a new era of global leadership. This is the vision of the 'K-Initiative.' To survive in today's fierce global battleground, I'm calling for a paradigm shift from copying to leading.

A recent poll released on Friday shows that Lee remains the front-runner among presidential hopefuls.

A survey conducted by Gallup from Tuesday to Thursday on 1-thousand-5 adults aged 18 and over shows that Lee is the most favored candidate to be the next president at 37 percent.

However, the DP has yet to announce its primary election rules or plans.

The party is reportedly debating methods to select its candidate.

One possible option is based on the results of a party membership vote -for 50 percent and public opinion polls also for 50 percent.

However, candidates outside Lee's faction are pushing for an open primary, where the outcome is determined entirely by a public vote.

Former DP lawmaker Kim Du-kwan and Governor of Gyeonggi-do Province Kim Dong-yeon, who both announced their bids earlier this week, have raised concerns, saying candidates are not being included in the discussions.

The party aims to select its presidential candidate by early May.

Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.