Ahn Cheol-soo Draws a Line Again on Seoul Mayoral Run... "Will Play a Role for Regime Change" (Comprehensive)

Need to Reshape the Opposition and Build a New Innovation Platform

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, is attending and giving a lecture at the People’s 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, said on the 6th, "I will play any role necessary for regime change," but once again drew a line on running in next year’s Seoul mayoral by-election.

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

Ahn presented opposition realignment and the establishment of a new innovation platform as the core strategy for regime change. He judged that a simple 'anti-Moon (anti-Moon Jae-in) coalition' has no chance of winning amid high public disfavor toward the opposition parties. Ahn said, "90% of the 2030 generation are not interested in politics. The bigger problem is that the public’s disfavor toward the opposition, including the main opposition party, is extremely high," adding, "If there has been no change in public opinion despite five months of effort, we need to find another way. Using the same method now, even the Seoul mayoral election has low chances of winning."

Ahn said, "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 and concrete vision and policies, the public will take interest," adding, "It can create a base that includes not only centrists but also progressives who desire rational reform." He also pointed out, "If it becomes an anti-Moon coalition, it will be the same battle pattern as the last general election," and said, "No political force has ever won by opposing someone."

Ahn mentioned ▲pension reform ▲labor reform ▲education reform, saying, "I have never heard the word reform under this government," and criticized, "I have only heard of prosecution reform, but that is not reform; it is making the prosecution a pet dog." Regarding the government’s real estate policy, he criticized, "It is the first time in 20 years that jeonse and monthly rents have risen this much. Even if a policy were devised to deliberately raise them, it would be impossible, but it has reached a collapse."

Hwang Bo-seung-hee, People Power Party lawmaker and co-chair of the People’s Future Forum, said, "There are many prepared leaders to lead Korea, and one of them is Leader Ahn," and Kwon Eun-hee, floor leader of the People’s Party, said, "I hope this will be an opportunity to share and practice the tasks for opposition innovation and future vision together."

Recently, Leader Ahn has been increasing contact with People Power Party lawmakers. In September, Ahn gave a lecture on opposition innovation at the 'Future Innovation Forum' led by People Power Party lawmaker Jang Je-won, and on the 12th, he will appear as a speaker at the 'Forum for a Better World' (Mapo Forum) led by former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Moo-sung.

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