Ahn Cheol-soo Presents '5th Party Founding' Card... Kim Jong-in Draws the Line

An Proposes Opposition Alliance and Innovation Platform
Points Out 'Bareunmiraedang's Failures and Frequent Party Founding Fatigue'
Kim: "No Interest in Some Lawmakers' Support"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, has proposed a 'fifth founding' for the reorganization of the opposition, but the People Power Party is showing a negative response. The People’s Party is also analyzing this more as a nerve battle with Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, rather than an immediate possibility. It is intended to take the initiative in opposition coalition and unification ahead of the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections in April next year.

A representative from Ahn’s side said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 9th, "During the general election, former People Power Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn said, ‘It has to be me or no one, gather,’ so what happened? I think Chairman Kim is treading a similar path," and explained, "We see regrouping around the People Power Party as a clear limitation, so we proposed an opposition platform." He added, "The expectations of those who support the opposition are that it should encompass both reformist conservatives and reasonable progressives," and said, "(The Bareunmirae Party) was lacking in the process of operation but was the right path. We want to put everything aside and have a proper discussion."

Ahn presented opposition reorganization and the establishment of a new innovation platform as a core strategy for regime change. At a seminar of the joint research group of People Power Party and People’s Party lawmakers, the People’s Future Forum, on the 6th, Ahn said, "The only conclusion is opposition reorganization. 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 foundation that encompasses not only centrists but also progressives who desire reasonable reform."

Ultimately, the opposition reorganization that Ahn talks about is an extension of the past Bareunmirae Party model. The issue is whether it can overcome the main causes and limitations of the Bareunmirae Party’s failure. At that time, the Bareunmirae Party suffered severe internal strife due to identity disputes and factional conflicts surrounding conservative and progressive ideologies, eventually collapsing. This is why the integration of two parties, which requires bringing together ideologically more complex and diverse people than before, is by no means easy. Also, the public fatigue toward Ahn’s frequent party founding appears to be another hurdle. Since entering politics, Ahn has founded four parties: the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, the People’s Party, the Bareunmirae Party, and the current People’s Party.

Chairman Kim clearly drew a line against Ahn’s new party founding theory. After the emergency committee meeting that day, Kim told reporters, "Our party is not one that will be swept away just because a certain politician says something outside," and added, "I am not interested in whether some lawmakers agree or not." On the other hand, Jang Je-won of the People Power Party emphasized, "It is time to abandon all vested interests and move solely toward innovation and unification." Kwon Eun-hee, floor leader of the People’s Party, said, "Chairman Kim does not seem to have much willingness to participate in innovation," and added, "We are hearing responses that People Power Party lawmakers sympathize with, and concrete discussions are planned."

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