Ahn Cheol-soo Increasing Contact with People Power Party... Attends Youth Policy Meeting

Unified Voices on Various Issues Including Communication Fee Payment
Kim Jong-in: "People Should Not Get Addicted to Government Money"
Ahn Cheol-soo: "Is It Okay to Waste Public Taxes Like This?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, is increasing points of contact with members of the People Power Party. On the 11th, Ahn will participate for the first time in an event hosted by members of the People Power Party.

On the same day in the afternoon, Ahn will deliver a congratulatory speech at the youth policy meeting "On Tact: Connection Link," hosted by Heo Eun-ah, a member of the People Power Party. This event was organized to diagnose issues such as ▲public medical school problems ▲real estate policies and housing issues for the younger generation ▲the second round of disaster relief funds from the perspective of youth and to seek policy alternatives. The meeting will be held online via video conference due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

On the 15th, Ahn will give a lecture on opposition innovation at the "Future Innovation Forum," led by Jang Je-won, a member of the People Power Party. The Future Innovation Forum has previously invited speakers such as Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju, and Oh Se-hoon, former Mayor of Seoul, who have been mentioned as potential next presidential candidates for the conservative opposition.

On the 4th, Jang said on Facebook, “Ahn is undoubtedly a leading presidential candidate in South Korea. Especially, it is practically difficult to discuss regime change in the opposition without including Ahn,” and emphasized, “It is politically significant that Ahn, who has a solid influence on the centrist group, is giving a lecture at a forum where many People Power Party members advocating for expansion of outreach and centrism participate.”

Recently, the People Power Party and the People’s Party have voiced a unified stance on various issues such as the nationwide 20,000 won communication fee payment, the National Foundation Day rallies, and allegations involving the son of Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae. On the 10th, Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, said at a luncheon meeting hosted by National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug, “There was a sudden announcement to distribute 20,000 won for communication fees, but on the other hand, there seems to be a lot of concern about the government’s fiscal soundness,” and pointed out, “From past experiences in other countries, once people get used to government money, they do not want to let go.”

On the same day, Ahn wrote on Facebook, “Do President Moon Jae-in and Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon want to receive 20,000 won? Is it okay to recklessly spend national money and taxpayers’ money like this? I do not want to receive it,” and added, “In short, it is a calculation to buy the hearts of the people for 20,000 won ahead of Chuseok. Are you really planning to throw a party for the regime by increasing the national debt?” He further stated, “Emergency livelihood support should be given even a penny more to self-employed people and small business owners hit hard by COVID-19, those employed there, and those living in blind spots who are struggling and desperate,” and declared, “The People’s Party was the first to propose the 4th supplementary budget, but we absolutely cannot agree to such a supplementary budget.”

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