"Innovation Platform Will Be a Great Help" Ahn Cheol-soo Sends 'Love Call' to Yoon Seok-yeol, Now 'Top Presidential Candidate'

Yoon Seok-yeol Leads Presidential Candidate Poll for the First Time... Surpasses Lee Nak-yeon and Lee Jae-myung
Ahn Cheol-soo: "Yoon Seok-yeol Would Be a Great Help if He Joins the Opposition Innovation Platform"

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 12th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, expressed on the 12th his hope that Yoon Seok-youl, Prosecutor General, would join the 'Opposition Innovation Platform' he proposed. Recently, Yoon has been mentioned as a strong presidential candidate, topping the support ratings among next presidential candidates, surpassing Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party, and Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province.

After finishing his lecture at the 'Towards a Better World' (Mapo Forum) held in Mapo-gu, Seoul, Ahn met with reporters and said, "First, (Prosecutor General Yoon) himself must decide to enter politics," adding, "If someone like Prosecutor General Yoon joins the innovation platform, it would be a great help to the opposition."

He continued, "Many citizens who recognize the current government as problematic are expecting a lot from Prosecutor General Yoon," and said, "It would be really good if such a person helps build the platform together."

This refers to mentioning Prosecutor General Yoon, who recently ranked first in support ratings among next presidential candidates, as a target for recruitment to the innovation platform. Earlier, Yoon became a hot topic by topping the preference ratings for next presidential candidates in a poll, surpassing Lee and Lee. This is the first time Yoon has ranked first since being included in the survey.

According to a survey conducted by Hangil Research on behalf of Cookie News from the 7th to 9th, targeting 1,022 voters nationwide aged 18 and over, support for Prosecutor General Yoon was the highest at 24.7%. Lee Nak-yeon recorded 22.2%, and Lee Jae-myung 18.4%. (Confidence level 95%, margin of error ±3.1 percentage points. Detailed survey results can be found on the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.)

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is arriving at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 9th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Facing the 'lack of figures' theory within the opposition five months before the Seoul mayoral by-election, Ahn appears to be emphasizing the 'Opposition Innovation Platform.'

On the 6th, Ahn proposed the 'Innovation Platform' as the direction for opposition reorganization. During a lecture at the People’s Future Forum, he said about the direction of opposition reorganization, "If we create a new innovation platform and talk about the future of Korea that various opposition parties will build, concrete visions, and our own policies, the public will regain interest and listen again," adding, "I believe we can create a foundation that encompasses not only centrists but also progressives who desire reasonable reform."

He also hinted at the possibility of founding a new party during a private discussion. When an attendee asked, "What is the specific direction and nature of the innovation platform?" Ahn reportedly replied, "It could take the form of a new political party or a coalition."

However, the main opposition party, the People Power Party, holds a negative stance on the 'new party founding theory.' Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, dismissed it on the 8th, saying, "I have no interest, and he can do it alone. If he wants to do it, how can we stop him?" Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, also expressed skepticism, saying, "At this point, I am doubtful whether the founding or innovation-type platform that Ahn is advocating is possible."

As political repercussions continued within the opposition, Ahn denied ever mentioning 'new party founding.' He explained, "I think there are various possible ways for the opposition to cooperate and unite. There is a wide spectrum from the loosest coalition to creating a new party, and I used the word 'platform' to express all of that."

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