Ahn Cheol-soo "Will Play a Role for Regime Change"... Distances Himself from Seoul Mayoral Candidacy

"Low Chances of Winning Seoul Mayoral Election with Current Approach"
"Need to Reorganize Opposition and Create New Innovation Platform"
Regarding Anti-Moon Coalition: "Cannot Win by Opposing Someone"

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, is attending and giving a lecture at the National Future Forum seminar titled "Post-Corona Era, South Korea's Innovation Tasks and Future Vision" held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 6th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, stated on the 6th, “I will play any role necessary for a regime change,” but once again drew a line regarding running in next year’s Seoul mayoral by-election.

After a seminar of the joint research group People’s Future Forum, held by People Power Party and People’s Party members at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building, Ahn told reporters, "(Whether I will run for Seoul mayor) is a question I’ve heard a hundred times if I hear it a few more times, but I will do my best for regime change.” When asked if this meant a change from his previous stance of not running for Seoul mayor, he replied, "I have not changed," adding, "I just used different expressions because I was tired of saying the same thing, but the intent is the same."

Ahn said, “90% of the 20s and 30s generation are not interested in politics. A bigger problem is the extremely high unfavorable views toward the opposition, including the main opposition party,” and added, “If there has been no change in public opinion despite efforts over the past five months, we need to find another way. If we continue with the same approach, even the Seoul mayoral election will have low chances of winning.”

Ahn stated, “The only conclusion is opposition realignment. It means showing a completely different image. When we create a new innovation platform and talk about Korea’s future with concrete visions and policies, the public will take interest,” adding, “We can build a foundation that encompasses not only centrists but also progressives who desire rational individuality.” He also criticized, “If it becomes an anti-Moon alliance, fighting one-on-one like that will result in the same battle pattern as the last general election,” and said, “No political force has ever won by opposing someone.”

Ahn mentioned reforms for Korea’s future, including ▲pension reform ▲labor reform ▲education reform, and said, “I have never heard the word reform under this government,” criticizing, “I have only heard about prosecution reform, but that is not reform; it is turning the prosecution into a pet dog. What kind of reform is that?”

Ahn said, “The key word for reforming our country’s economic structure is freedom. It is the most precious value in the conservative camp,” and added, “So far, regardless of whether the government was conservative or progressive, it has taken freedom away from businesses. The conservative government verbally proclaims freedom but in practice takes it away. Where is the contradiction like this? Returning to putting precious values into action is the way to revive the economy.”

Regarding the government’s real estate policy, Ahn criticized, “It is the first time in 20 years that jeonse and monthly rents have risen this much. Even if a policy was devised to deliberately raise them, it would be impossible, but it has reached a collapse,” and said, “They need to confess and apologize for the mistakes in the policies so far to introduce proper policies. If they say there is no fault and that waiting will bring effects, the 24th policy will only raise housing prices further.”

Ahn said, “Under this government, taxes are being collected to be spent. There is talk of a tax bomb on real estate,” and added, “Creating a social atmosphere where taxpayers are recognized is the role the state must fulfill.”

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