Kim Geun-sik: "Ahn Cheol-soo's Mention of 'New Party Formation' Is Unexpected... Can't Help but Question Its Sincerity"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Professor Kim Geun-sik of Gyeongnam National University, who serves as the head of the People Power Party's Songpa-byeong district committee, criticized Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, for suggesting the formation of a "new party," calling it "unexpected and undesirable."

On the 9th, Professor Kim stated on Facebook, "The formation of a new party, mergers, or third-way coalition-style party formations mostly occur ahead of general or local elections."

He added, "It is natural, reasonable, and desirable to consider opposition unification and selecting a broad opposition candidate ahead of next year’s Seoul mayoral by-election. However, suddenly bringing up the formation of a new party is unnatural, unexpected, and undesirable."

Professor Kim said, "Ahn’s proposal for a one-shot primary to select a broad opposition citizen candidate that includes participants both inside and outside the party, not limited to People Power Party members, is reasonable, and our party can also deeply consider and discuss it. But the sudden call for a new opposition party formation ahead of the mayoral by-election inevitably raises questions about its sincerity."

He pointed out that the "third-way new party formation" was urgently needed after Ahn’s return to Korea, emphasizing, "Right now, rather than forming a new party, the top priority for both the People Power Party and the People’s Party is to produce strong candidates through innovation competition and citizen participation primaries, and to secure victory in the Seoul mayoral election through last-minute unification."

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