'Bami Two-Top' Ahn Cheol-soo and Yoo Seung-min Launch Presidential Bids... Will a Realignment of the Opposition Blow?

An proposes innovation platform and all-opposition final debate
Yu to hold housing issue discussion on 16th… Office named 'Hope22'

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, and Yoo Seung-min, leader of the Bareun Party / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, and Yoo Seung-min, former member of the People Power Party?once the two top figures of the Bareunmirae Party?have started their presidential campaigns. They are blocking speculation about their potential runs for Seoul mayor and are focusing squarely on the 20th presidential election.

On the afternoon of the 12th, Ahn presented the reorganization of the opposition and the establishment of a new innovation platform as key strategies for regime change at the “Towards a Better World” (Mapo Forum) led by former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Moo-sung. Ahn stated, “The timetable for the innovation platform is not the by-election for Seoul mayor next year but the presidential election. We must set the timetable for the presidential election and align all plans accordingly. This is for the entire opposition, and once the framework is established, I will even act as a gatekeeper.”

Ahn mentioned an innovation platform that encompasses conservatives, centrists, and even reasonable progressives. This is essentially a continuation of the former Bareunmirae Party model. He said, “There is a wide spectrum of ways for the opposition to cooperate and unite, ranging from the loosest alliances to forming a new party. I used the word ‘platform’ to express all of these. The solutions will differ depending on the degree of crisis each party feels,” and proposed a final debate among the entire opposition.

After the forum, Ahn told reporters about Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, “First, he must decide whether he wants to enter politics. Someone like Prosecutor General Yoon joining the innovation platform would be a great help to the opposition. It would be good to build the platform together.” Regarding former Democratic Party lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, he said, “I haven’t contacted him yet, but the priority is to get the platform on track and create an environment where progressive people who desire reasonable reform can participate without burden.”

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Yoo Seung-min, who has been laying low since the end of the 20th National Assembly’s term, is returning to the Yeouido stage with housing issues as his first agenda. On the 16th, Yoo will hold a discussion titled “Housing Issues, Let’s Restore the Ladder” at an office he set up in the Taeheung Building across from the National Assembly. Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, and Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, are also expected to attend. Instead of holding an office opening ceremony, Yoo chose a series of discussions named “It’s Ultimately the Economy.” This appears to be an effort to highlight his economic expertise. The office is named “Hope22,” incorporating the number symbolizing the 2022 presidential election year.

In political circles, the two are widely regarded as having effectively started the presidential race. In the 19th presidential election, Ahn Cheol-soo (6,998,342 votes) and Yoo Seung-min (2,208,771 votes) together received 9,207,113 votes (28.17%). Nearly 10 million voters cast their ballots for these two, who represented the third zone parties, the People’s Party and Bareun Party. This is why there is keen interest in the reorganization of the opposition that unites them with the conservative camp.

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