Five-term lawmaker Na declares presidential bid

Na Kyung-won, a five-term lawmaker of the People Power Party, declared her presidential bid Friday, presenting herself as a strong contender against former opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, the leading presidential hopeful.

The high-profile lawmaker pledged to put the country back on its feet, calling the June 3 election a “war over our system” that will decide the nation’s future course.

“To North Korea and anti-state forces who are still trying to overthrow South Korea’s liberal democracy, I, Na Kyung-won, have been their top political target because I am the biggest obstacle to their attempts to overthrow our regime,” she said during a press conference at the National Assembly.

Na, one of the few female lawmakers in the male-dominated parliament, highlighted her extensive political experience to steer the country and conservative party in the face of challenges posed by the liberal Democratic Party, which holds a controlling majority in parliament.

On defense and security, Na pledged to strengthen the alliance with the United States and pursue South Korea’s armament to counter North Korea’s nuclear threats, marking a departure from the previous Moon Jae-in administration’s engagement-focused policy toward Pyongyang.