[Summary] Kim Jong-in "Not Interested" vs Ahn Cheol-soo's 'New Party Formation' Proposal... Subtle Tension Between Kim and Ahn

Kim Jong-in to Ahn Cheol-soo: "What Are You Trying to Do?"
People Power Party Responds to Ahn Cheol-soo's 'New Party Formation' Proposal: "We Are the Unifying Center"

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is giving a greeting at the 'Seoul Citizen Candidate Search Public Hearing' held at Jeilra Art Hall in Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 6th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] On the 7th, it was reported that Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, proposed the creation of a new party as one of the opposition’s innovation measures, but Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, dismissed it on the 8th, saying, "I am not interested."

Chairman Kim said in a phone call with JoongAng Ilbo, "I do not feel the need to talk about (the new party creation through opposition unification proposed by Leader Ahn)," adding, "That is something he can do as he wishes."

Earlier, after a lecture invited by the People’s Future Forum on the 6th, Ahn stated in a private discussion, "If things continue as they are, I think the chances of winning even the Seoul mayoral by-election next year are low," and "The only conclusion I have come to is opposition realignment."

He also emphasized that "efforts should be made to broaden the support base and reduce the unfavorable views toward the opposition," and one of the methods is to create a new party. This is interpreted as an intention to innovate the People Power Party and the People’s Party system by founding a new party to check the ruling party.

Ahn reportedly urged the attending lawmakers, "Simply merging will not overcome the crisis," and "Let’s all put down our vested interests and come together anew."

In his public lecture that day, Ahn said, "Because the opposition is viewed unfavorably, (voters) do not listen no matter what we say," and "We need to create a new innovation platform through opposition realignment."

He expressed a negative stance toward the anti-Moon (Ban Moon) coalition being raised in some quarters, saying, "The only way is to move toward an innovation coalition, a future coalition, and a people’s coalition."

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, attended and gave a lecture at the People’s Future Forum seminar titled "Post-Corona Era, South Korea’s Innovation Tasks and Future Vision" held on the morning of the 6th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding this, Chairman Kim, after attending the "Seoul Citizen Candidate Search Public Hearing" hosted by the People Power Party on the 6th, told reporters, "What exactly is he trying to do? He should have said something concrete," showing no special significance.

He criticized, "Saying vaguely that you will try to do something to change the regime without concrete plans is something that is always said."

Chairman Kim said, "He said in a Q&A that he will not run for Seoul mayor, so there is nothing more to say."

On whether he would meet Ahn individually, he emphasized, "Once we finalize the nomination rules, those who want to run for Seoul mayor can compete fairly according to those rules."

Regarding the possibility of Ahn unifying with the People Power Party candidate at the last minute, he dismissed it, saying, "I have not heard such talk yet," and "I cannot trust vague words about trying to change the regime and do something else."

Meanwhile, the People Power Party stated that regarding Ahn’s mention of founding a new party as one of the opposition unification methods ahead of next year’s by-elections, "Our party inevitably has to be the platform that serves as the focal point."

Spokesperson Bae Jun-young told reporters on the afternoon of the 8th that "Who would restrict a political leader or politician from expressing their own convictions?" regarding Ahn’s remarks about founding a new party.

He added, "From our standpoint, aren’t we the main opposition party?" and "To correct the current wrong governance and confront President Moon Jae-in, our party inevitably has to be the platform that serves as the focal point."

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