Governor Hong Elected as Liberty Korea Party's Presidential Candidate

South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Joon-pyo has been elected as the presidential candidate of the conservative Liberty Korea Party.
 
The former ruling party held a party convention on Friday and announced Hong's nomination based on combined results of a vote by party members and public opinion polls.
 
The 62-year-old former prosecutor clinched over 54 percent of the vote, defeating Representative Kim Jin-tae who secured 19 percent. 
 
Former lawmaker and current standing adviser Rhee In-je scored 14-point-eight percent and North Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kwan-yong eleven-point-seven percent of the vote.

In an acceptance speech, Hong said he'll become a president who unites the right-wing conservatives. 

The presidential election is scheduled for May ninth.