South Korea presidential candidate praises candlelight vigils, calls for change

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- A South Korean opposition party politician who is preparing a presidential run struck a tone of optimism on Thursday about the future of his country while signaling policy could change if he is elected.

Moon Jae-in, who once led the Minjoo Party of Korea, said Thursday the mass protests against President Park Geun-hye held every weekend are the signs of a nonviolent movement toward political change.

"The 'Candlelight Revolution' has proven this one simple truth: 'Peace' may be more powerful than 'violence'," Moon said in a statement to foreign correspondents in Seoul. "Korea's democracy and constitution were protected by the candles held by the Korean people."

Moon, who ran for president in 2012 and lost by a small margin to Park, is one of the leading candidates to replace her.

A recent Gallup Korea poll indicated Moon is tied with former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with a 20 percent support rate, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Ban has yet to announce his presidential bid.

The rallies held by South Korean citizens who were asking Park to step down may have helped to improve Moon's standing in the polls.

The former lawmaker was often seen with the crowds, delivering speeches in support of Park's resignation.

On Thursday Moon also called for the strengthening of the U.S.-South Korea alliance.

"We need a solid and strong relationship between South Korea and the U.S.," Moon said.

But the opposition party politician added the deployment of THAAD, the U.S. missile defense system, would be reconsidered.

Park had supported THAAD deployment despite China's opposition to the THAAD radar that can monitor parts of its territory.

Moon said he did not think reviewing THAAD deployment would negatively affect bilateral relations, the Journal reported.