Jung Jin-seok: "Ahn Cheol-soo, Just Watch the Unification... Should Run as Candidate No. 2"

"The Cause is to Judge the Moon Jae-in Administration and Change the Regime"
"Kim Proposes Participation in the Pan-Opposition Primary... Ahn Must Respond"
"Pan-Opposition Unification Must Be Achieved at All Costs"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Jeong Jin-seok, the nomination committee chairman for the People Power Party's by-election, stated on the 13th regarding the opposition's unification for the Seoul mayoral by-election, “It is good that Ahn Cheol-soo, the leader of the People’s Party, has decided to give up the presidential election and run for Seoul mayor. However, he does not mention any specific method. He keeps hesitating. It is regrettable,” and emphasized, “The opposition unification that can maximize the winning probability is the unification under candidate number 2.”

On the same day, at the People Power Party’s meeting of first-term lawmakers called Myeongbulheojeon Conservative, Chairman Jeong said, “Leader Ahn claims that he monopolizes centrist support, but that is absolutely not true. The ultimate destination is the People Power Party. Isn’t it reflected in party support ratings? If Leader Ahn has eyes, he should take a look,” and added, “Why not conduct a public opinion poll asking whether unification under candidate number 2 or number 4 is better?”

He said, “This election is a do-or-die battle and a gateway to the presidential election. The party that wins will gain a great stepping stone toward the presidential election, and the party that fails will fall into great confusion,” and stated, “The cause is to punish the immoral and anti-constitutional Moon Jae-in administration and achieve regime change. That is the spirit of the times and the goal.”

He continued, “The unification of opposition candidates is an unstoppable trend and a command from the people. It is not a matter of choice but a matter of duty,” and added, “If everyone abandons selfish interests, strengthens the ranks, and advances step by step, we must surely reach the destination of victory.”

[Image source=Photo by Heo Eun-ah, Office of the People Power Party lawmaker]

Regarding party-to-party integration with the People’s Party, Chairman Jeong said, “I have never said that we should immediately merge the parties. Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, also met Leader Ahn and encouraged him to join the party. We officially proposed that he participate in the opposition unified candidate primary. Leader Ahn must give an answer to that,” and added, “Is it possible for Leader Ahn to join the party simply for this election? That can only happen if there is a determination to unite and integrate with the People Power Party.”

Chairman Jeong said, “The People’s Party led by Leader Ahn is not much different from the People Power Party. I believe they truly uphold liberal democracy and market economy and cherish constitutional values. It is not logically consistent to say that joining the party is acceptable but integration is not,” and stated, “What is clear is that opposition unification must be achieved at all costs.”

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