Ahn Cheol-soo: "The People’s Party Will Never Yield to Established Powers"

"400km National Cross-Country Journey, Determined to Achieve Even by Crawling"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, stated on the 12th, “My politics and that of the People’s Party will always be at the site of the lives of the suffering people,” and added, “Although our power is currently weak, I vow never to lose to the vested interests and the old established politics.”

In a letter titled ‘A Message to Party Members, Comrades, and Supporters’ on the same day, Ahn said, “We will never repeat past mistakes and errors.”

He said, “Today marks the 18th day of my cross-country run. Every day, in situations where I feel suffocated and on the verge of my chest bursting, whenever I think about ‘Why am I running now?’ past political experiences come to mind and pass by. When I gave up the Seoul mayoral position nine years ago, and when I gave up my candidacy in the presidential election the following year, the reasons were different each time, but I believed in the values of goodwill, sacrifice, and dedication in the world. However, the established political circles mocked me as ‘Cheolsu politics’ and ridiculed me as weak,” he revealed.

He continued, “Those who received the concessions promised to give even their liver before receiving it, but once they accepted the concession, they constantly demanded support without showing gratitude. Rather, they blamed me for the failures,” and added, “At that time, I really did not understand this world and its people at all.”

Ahn said, “I tried to reform the Democratic Party by merging with them to create the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, but after seeing their true colors, I left the party and founded the People’s Party. The process of creating the Bareunmirae Party through another merger was the same,” and explained, “The nature of established politics was very different from the way I have lived my life, and it was also different from the thoughts of ordinary people I know. The wall of vested interest politics was too high for a political newcomer like me to overcome at once.”

Ahn stated, “New politics thus failed to create a difference from established politics, and many people criticized me and left,” adding, “I felt both unfairness and disappointment. However, while running this time and looking back from afar, I repeatedly realize that all causes and responsibilities also lie with me.”

Ahn said, “I have become stronger while running. Although our People’s Party is smaller than four years ago, I clearly feel that its core has become much firmer and stronger,” and declared, “Therefore, we will never lose, and we will ultimately win in the proportional representation party vote.”

Ahn concluded, “The 400km cross-country run will also finally succeed. If I cannot run, I will crawl to achieve it no matter what,” and said, “This is a promise to the people that we will be among them, the People’s Party’s will and sincerity to stand firmly against the two major parties, and the urgency that we cannot leave the country being destroyed by the vested two-party system as it is.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.