The head of the South Korean Football Association, Chung Mong-joon, has said he is campaigning for the country's presidency on a "common sense" platform.

Mr Chung formally announced his candidacy on Tuesday, after confirming earlier this month that he was planning to contend the post in December's elections.

The popularity of Mr Chung, the wealthy US-educated son of a conglomerate founder, has soared since South Korea's success in co-hosting, and competing in, the World Cup finals earlier this year.

The current polls show us that people are tired of current politics

Chung Mong-joon

Recent opinion polls have suggested that he would win more votes than the governing party's candidate, but he is trailing slightly behind the main opposition contender.

"The increasing high level of support... could just be a bubble or just an expression of support for the successful completion of the World Cup," Mr Chung told a news conference.

"However, the results of the current polls show us that people are tired of current politics," he added.

South Korea has recently suffered a raft of political scandals.

Mr Chung, who admitted he had suffered several sleepless nights over his decision, said he wanted to "stand in the centre of politics based on common sense".

He added that he would form a new party with politicians "who share this hope".

Strong candidate

In addition to heading the Korean Football Association and serving as the vice-president of football's world governing body, Fifa, Mr Chung is also an independent legislator.

Analysts say the football chief could prove to be a strong candidate in the presidential race.

The candidate from Mr Kim's Millennium Democratic Party, Roh Moo-hyun, has been tainted by scandals involving two of Mr Kim's three sons, and by crushing party defeats in recent by-elections.

And Lee Hoi-chang of the opposition Grand National Party is battling allegations that his son dodged military service.

Incumbent President Kim Dae-jung is barred from seeking re-election under the terms of the constitution.

Powerful family

Lee Nae-young, professor of politics at Seoul's Korea University, told the BBC that Mr Chung's role in bringing the World Cup to South Korea and making it a success had generated political capital.

"His fresh image is appealing to young people, who are yearning for new and clean politics," he said.

"His support base is very broad thanks to the World Cup effects. But it's not firm and rather fluid."

It is not the first presidential bid by the Chung family.

Mr Chung's father, Chung Ju-yung, who founded the Hyundai Group conglomerate, made his own unsuccessful bid in 1992.