Ahn Cheol-soo Promotes 'Post-Corona'... Draws Line on Opposition Coalition

Innovation Committee Discusses 'Basic Income'
Post-Corona Forum Held on the 21st
Ahn: "What the Opposition Needs Now Is Innovation Competition"

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 18th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People Party, who gained attention through medical volunteer activities for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), has now taken the lead in the 'post-COVID' issue. The strategy is to highlight the presence of the People Party by leading policy issues in the 21st National Assembly. Currently, the party's Innovation Preparation Committee is also discussing the introduction of basic income.

A People Party official said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 19th regarding basic income, "It is true that it has been raised as an agenda item (by the Innovation Committee), but no decision has been made yet," and explained, "It is different in nature from what other parties are advocating. It is somewhat removed from the character of universal welfare."

The People Party is considering a basic income plan that selectively provides basic income to vulnerable groups such as youth, rather than a universal basic income paid to all citizens on a broad scale. During the last general election, when the Democratic Party of Korea and the United Future Party argued for expanding emergency disaster relief payments to all citizens, Ahn criticized, saying, "I strongly criticize the populism of the two established parties that use the national crisis as a means for private gain," and questioned, "How can national governance be approached in this way?"

If the People Party joins the basic income issue, it is expected that related discussions will be actively conducted in the National Assembly in the future. Yong Hye-in, who returned to the Basic Income Party after participating in the Together Citizens' Party, stated at a press conference on the 13th, "We will continue discussions on basic income with many political forces that agree on the realization of basic income."

The People Party will hold its first official forum on the 21st under the theme "Post-COVID-19, Prospects for Changes in Korean Society and Policy Tasks." This forum will cover topics such as ▲border closures and nationalism prioritizing one's own country ▲acceleration of non-face-to-face interactions and the Fourth Industrial Revolution ▲strengthening state intervention through cash injections ▲privacy invasion and Big Brother issues.

While focusing on policy issues, the People Party is drawing a line against opposition alliances. After the Supreme Council meeting the day before, Ahn told reporters that regarding the possibility of forming a joint negotiation group with the Future Korea Party, "We are not considering any integration or alliance." He added, "Our focus is on how we can properly innovate and how the People Party can take the lead in competition within the opposition," and said, "What the opposition needs right now is innovation competition."

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