A think tank run by a strong presidential hopeful of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) began its official activities Monday with experts expected to formulate policies ahead of the presidential race in December 2012.
Named the "National Future Institute," the think tank in Seoul will assist Park Geun-hye, with experts advising her in 15 fields, including economy, politics and diplomacy.
The experts will meet in groups on different days and hold brainstorming sessions on her future policies, Park's aides said, adding she will personally attend sessions that she has interest in and engage in free discussions with the experts. The opening day's session will be on land development, real estate and transportation, they said.
The think tank had gained attention well before its formal opening, as it was seen as the starting point to Park's presidential bid. A former chairwoman of the ruling party whose initial image was stronger as the daughter of late President Park Chung-hee, a general who seized power in a coup, she had ran against President Lee Myung-bak for the party's nomination in the previous election.
Most early media polls showed Park's support rating above the 30 percent mark, while those of other hopefuls were in single digits.
Park, however, will exert her energy into policy studies for the timing being rather than public activities, her aides said. Her earlier trip to Daegu, her political base, at the start of the year drew negative opinions that she was too hasty in preparing for the presidential race, which is still two years away.
The national spread of the highly contagious foot-and-mouth livestock disease is also a reason for minimizing trips, aides said.