[Comprehensive] Ahn Cheol-soo's 'New Party Formation Theory'... "Not Interested" vs "Convincing" Opposition Party 'Stirred'

People Power Party Leadership "We Are Not a Party Swayed by Voices Outside the Party" Dismisses Claims
"Alliance Is a Matter of Survival" vs "Too Premature" Sparks Debate Within the Party

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People 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. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, has proposed the idea of forming a 'new party' to reorganize the opposition, sparking differing opinions within the People Power Party. While the party leadership has drawn a line by saying they have "no interest," debates are ongoing among the lawmakers.

Earlier, on the morning of the 6th, during an invited lecture at the National Assembly Members' Office Building hosted by the National Future Forum, Ahn addressed People Power Party lawmakers, stating, "There is too much unfavorable sentiment toward the opposition, including the main opposition party," and suggested "finding another way" as part of the 'opposition reorganization.' It was reported that Ahn mentioned the formation of a new party as one of the methods for this reorganization.

However, reactions within the People Power Party to Ahn’s new party proposal were mixed. While the party leadership responded coolly, implying it was just talk from an outsider politician, some factions believe Ahn’s proposal should be seriously considered.

Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, met with reporters after the emergency committee meeting on the 9th and said, "Our party is not one that gets swept away by whatever one politician says from outside," adding, "I have no interest in whether some lawmakers agree with Ahn or not."

Jisungwook, chairman of the People Power Party’s think tank Yeouido Institute, wrote on his Facebook that "Is this the fifth party formation in nine years since entering politics?" and criticized, "It is not innovation to unify all opposition parties unconditionally. The Justice Party is also opposition, so should it be included in the unification?"

He continued, "We have heard a lot about innovation. The public still does not understand what exactly is being proposed," and sharply criticized, "They just want to form an anti-Moon alliance to become the owners, so they should stop now."

Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 9th. / Photo by Yonhap News

While the leadership expressed skepticism about Ahn’s proposal, opinions within the party were divided. Some lawmakers argued that Ahn’s proposal deserves attention.

Jang Je-won, a People Power Party lawmaker, wrote on Facebook on the 10th that Ahn’s new party theory is "a much more convincing unification than the three-party merger by former President Kim Young-sam or the unification by former President Roh Moo-hyun," emphasizing, "Everyone must humbly relinquish vested interests. Only by uniting the People Power Party, the People’s Party, and independents can we atone for our sin of surrendering power."

Fellow party member Kim Ki-hyun argued that a "big tent candidate for the anti-Moon alliance" should be put forward. Kim wrote on Facebook that "the opposition alliance is not a matter of whether to do it or not for regime change, but a matter of survival?whether to revive the country or let it perish," urging, "Even if party mergers are premature now, at the very least, the path for candidate unification must be opened before it’s too late."

On the other hand, there were also skeptical views on the new party formation theory. Kim Geun-sik, chairman of the People Power Party’s Songpa-byeong district and professor at Gyeongnam University, appeared on a radio broadcast that day and said, "Raising issues like opposition candidate unification or the opposition’s Seoul mayoral citizen candidate primary is reasonable," but criticized, "Suddenly talking about forming a new party or a third zone coalition is somewhat abrupt."

He added, "Merging parties over a specific by-election is an unprecedented case," and pointed out, "In my view, the new party formation proposal has progressed too far."

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