Ahn Cheol-soo, the Hollow 'Opposition Innovation Platform'... Cold Reception from the People Power Party

Innovation Platform 'Nanmang'... People Power Party Leadership Rejects
Ahn "New Party Not Bad"... Kim Se-yeon "For Now, a Dialogue and Cooperation Platform"
Kim Jong-in Begins Supporting Party Candidates

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, has been promoting the ‘Opposition Innovation Platform’ day after day, but the response from the People Power Party remains cold. With Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman, and other People Power Party leaders effectively expressing their refusal, Ahn is becoming politically isolated. Although both parties clearly share a consensus on opposition coalition, the realization of an innovation platform including a new party remains bleak.

Ahn’s camp official said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 23rd, “There are some People Power Party lawmakers who receive (Ahn’s) proposal favorably. If (Chairman Kim) says he wants to meet anytime, there is no reason not to meet,” but added, “I’m not sure if the self-defeating act of ‘telling us to join the People Power Party by a certain time’ will continue. Currently, the party is being led by the thoughts of one Emergency Committee Chairman, but I think there might be discussions within the party as well.”

Earlier, the People Power Party leadership rejected Ahn’s proposal. Chairman Kim stated on the 16th, “I do not want to get involved in that issue.” Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, said on KBS Radio on the 11th, “If Ahn creates a new party this time, I can’t even count how many times he has done so,” and added, “Continuously talking about possibilities that are almost impossible can undermine that politician’s credibility.”

Ahn is focusing on increasing contact points with People Power Party lawmakers. Recently, Ahn proposed opposition reorganization and a new innovation platform at ‘Towards a Better World’ (Mapo Forum), led by former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Moo-sung, and on the 2nd of next month, he is scheduled to speak at ‘Myeongbulheojeon Bosuda,’ a gathering of first-term People Power Party lawmakers.

In ‘Ahn Cheol-soo x Kim Se-yeon Innovation Talk Part 1 ? Together for Opposition Innovation,’ released on his YouTube channel the day before, Ahn said, “There are various forms ranging from loose coalitions to the most rigid form of creating a party, and the term platform encompasses all of these,” adding, “It has been reported as ‘let’s create a party’ or something like that, but that’s not necessarily bad.” Former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Se-yeon said, “Rather than forcibly merging parties, it would be a great help to our politics if it can first function as a platform for dialogue and cooperation.”

Chairman Kim drew a line against Ahn and began focusing on managing presidential and by-election candidates within the party. On the 16th, Kim visited the office opening ceremony of former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, and on the afternoon of the same day, he attended the declaration ceremony of former People Power Party lawmaker Lee Eon-ju’s candidacy for Busan mayor. Kim is also expected to attend a book talk event of former People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won on the 24th.

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