Opposition Coalition's Successive Responses... New Phase for Unification

Ahn Cheol-soo's Proposal Supported by Oh Se-hoon, Na Kyung-won, and Cho Eun-hee
An-Keum Tae-seop Talks Halt... Third Zone Stalls

[Asia Economy Reporters Naju-seok and Park Joon-yi] As Ahn Cheol-soo, the People’s Party preliminary candidate for Seoul mayor, proposed the ‘broad opposition coalition local government theory,’ major candidates from the People Power Party responded positively, marking a new phase in opposition unity. However, the unification process between candidate Ahn and independent preliminary candidate Geum Tae-seop has hit a snag over debate issues, putting the unification of third-zone candidates at risk from the outset.

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 15th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

On the 15th, Kwon Eun-hee, floor leader of the People’s Party, said on YTN Radio’s Hwang Bo-seon’s Start Morning program regarding the broad opposition coalition local government theory, “I said that unifying policies and pledges between the two parties is as important as candidate unification, and now the People Power Party has developed an awareness regarding policy pledges,” adding, “It should be seen as a new phase.” The party’s Secretary-General Lee Tae-gyu also evaluated, “(The response from the leading People Power Party candidates) is a very desirable decision for strengthening mid- to long-term opposition coalition.”

Earlier, Oh Se-hoon, a People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayoral primary, stated in a media interview the day before, “If the proposal to jointly operate Seoul City is negotiated and unification is achieved, voters might have some expectations.” This was a response to Ahn’s proposal on December 21 last year to form a coalition local government in Seoul. Na Kyung-won, another candidate from the same party, said, “If we win through successful unification, jointly operating Seoul City is naturally a basic task to be implemented.” Candidate Cho Eun-hee also responded that day, “It’s a fresh proposal. I will consider introducing it.”

Although calls for cooperation between the People Power Party and the People’s Party grew around the coalition local government topic, problems erupted where they were addressed.

The first TV debate scheduled between candidate Ahn and former lawmaker Geum on that day was canceled, raising concerns about broad opposition unification for the third-zone primary. The working-level negotiation teams on both sides showed disagreements over the debate media and format, leading to a temporary suspension of talks.

In response, the People Power Party appeared anxious. Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, said at the emergency committee meeting that day, “Unification is not achieved by individuals but is a winning strategy realized by everyone’s hope,” adding, “If I stubbornly try to survive alone, everyone dies.” Although he did not directly mention candidates Ahn or Geum, it seemed he was concerned about disruptions in the final unification process after the People Power Party and third-zone candidate unification. Seong Il-jong, a member of the People Power Party emergency committee, appealed for reconciliation, saying, “I earnestly ask candidates Ahn and Geum not to consider personal gains or losses but to look only at the people and make history without any conditions.”

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