"Stopping the Regime's Recklessness," Says Ahn... Ruling Party Mocks Him as "Traitor" and "Habitual Candidate"

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 20th, declaring his candidacy for the Seoul mayoral by-election.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] As Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, declared his candidacy for the Seoul mayoral by-election scheduled for April 7 next year, ruling party figures belittled him, calling him a "turncoat," "habitual candidate," and "master of changing words."

On the 20th, Yoo Ki-hong, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, directed remarks at Ahn Cheol-soo, who declared his candidacy for the Seoul mayoral by-election on the same day, saying, "Please stop politics. The inevitable words of a turncoat will ultimately lead to defeat."

Yoo said, "Leader Ahn Cheol-soo has officially announced that he will once again challenge for Seoul mayor," adding, "Since we worked together as co-leaders when I was the chief spokesperson of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, I offer this last piece of advice: don’t dream in vain."

He continued, "Seoul citizens do not like turncoats. Candidate Chung Mong-joon, who unified with former President Roh Moo-hyun, betrayed him at the last moment and later joined the Saenuri Party, even becoming party leader, but lost in the 2014 Seoul mayoral election. Former Governor Kim Moon-soo, who co-founded the Minjung Party, also lost in the 2018 Seoul mayoral election."

He added, "If Leader Ahn runs, the Democratic Party might aim to split the opposition vote, but I sincerely advise this in hopes that our politics will not be ridiculed. Whether you run or study again, please stop politics," he said sarcastically.

Another member of the same party, Jeong Cheong-rae, also harshly criticized, saying, "It’s a habitual candidacy. He declares candidacy but won’t complete the race."

Jeong said, "This candidacy declaration is a desperate measure to revive the declining influence and fading presence of the People’s Party," and "Even if a unification poll with the People Power Party candidate is held after many twists and turns, it seems difficult to defeat the People Power Party candidate," he fiercely criticized.

Democratic Party lawmaker Yoo Ki-hong is appealing for support during a vehicle campaign near Seoul National University Station in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, on April 8. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim Min-seok, head of the Democratic Party’s Seoul mayoral by-election planning team, also criticized, saying, "Leader Ahn, who has transformed into a politician who constantly changes his words and runs in every election, has entered the Seoul mayoral race," adding, "Regardless of the process and outcome of next year’s by-election, he will run again in the next presidential election."

This appears to be a sarcastic reference to Ahn’s candidacies in the 2017 presidential election, the 2018 local election for Seoul mayor, and his recent declaration to run in next year’s Seoul mayoral by-election.

Meanwhile, on the 20th, Leader Ahn held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall and made a sudden declaration of candidacy for the Seoul mayoral by-election in April next year. Leader Ahn stated, "I will proudly run as the unified opposition candidate and play the role of a driving force to stop the regime’s recklessness," expressing his ambition, "I will definitely win and lay the foundation for regime change."

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