The main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) said Sunday it plans to hold a preliminary race next week to shortlist five contenders for its presidential primary in an effort to find more electable candidates.

Eight candidates have registered to run in the party's primary to become the final contender against the conservative rival in the December 19 presidential election.

The party will cut less popular candidates through five televised debates and public polls among party members and ordinary citizens from July 29-30 before the party kicks off the main primary, its presidential election preparation committee said.

The final presidential candidate will be decided in late September, DUP officials said.

Among the candidates, Rep. Moon Jae-in, the former aide to late President Roh Moo-hyun, has emerged as one of the strong presidential hopefuls in the liberal camp.

Others include Sohn Hak-kyu, an Oxford-graduate who served as the party leader; Kim Doo-kwan, the former South Gyeongsang Province governor; and Rep. Chung Sye-kyun, a three-term lawmaker who served as the party's chief.

Recent polls showed that Moon was behind the conservative front-runner Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri Party, and Ahn Cheol-soo, a popular software entrepreneur and professor who has not yet announced his presidential bid. (Yonhap)