Ahn Cheol-soo "A Larger Opposition Including Yoon Seok-yeol" vs Oh Se-hoon "Ahn, a Candidate Who Will Breed Division"

Ahn Cheol-soo, the People's Party candidate for Seoul mayor, and Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, attended the March 8th International Women's Day event held at the Air Force Hotel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the 8th, exchanging greetings. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] On the 14th, Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate running in the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, criticized Ahn Cheol-soo of the People’s Party, calling him a "candidate who will cause opposition division."

This is interpreted as a move to check Ahn’s earlier announcement on the same day advocating for a "greater opposition unity" including former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl. As the deadline for 'opposition unity' in this Seoul mayoral by-election approaches on the 19th, there has been no progress in unification talks, raising the possibility of a three-way race instead of a one-on-one contest between the ruling and opposition parties.

On the same day, Oh posted on his Facebook under the title "Worrying about opposition division," directly targeting Ahn by saying, "He has always been at the center of opposition division, and unifying behind a candidate who will cause division will lead to further division in next year’s presidential election."

He continued, "With opposition division, neither the Seoul mayoral by-election nor the presidential election can be won. That means the extension of the Moon Jae-in administration," expressing concern over the lack of progress in unification talks.

He added, "There are also forces trying to cause division within the People Power Party under the pretext of political realignment to promote opposition division," and questioned, "Do we have to go through the difficult process of unification again in next year’s presidential election?"

Oh emphasized, "With my selection as the People Power Party’s Seoul mayoral candidate, the opposition has come one step closer to the people. Those who left the People Power Party in disappointment are now hopeful and returning to me," and stated, "This is why I must be the unified opposition candidate for Seoul mayor to prevent opposition division and block the extension of the Moon Jae-in government."

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th. Photo by Yonhap News

Oh’s remarks are seen as a response to Ahn’s emphasis on unification under himself by proposing the inclusion of former Prosecutor General Yoon in the coalition.

After unification talks with Oh failed to reach an agreement, Ahn held a press conference at the National Assembly on the same day, stating, "I want to respond to the public’s desire and support for unification by creating a 'greater No. 2' including former Prosecutor General Yoon after the election," and emphasized, "Through greater unity including Yoon Seok-youl, we will definitely create a greater No. 2."

He added, "We will dramatically expand the opposition’s domain and trust, including centrists, and definitely establish the foundation for regime change," and said, "I believe this is my political mission in the current situation of the Republic of Korea and the ultimate goal of unification."

He further stated, "Ahn Cheol-soo will defeat Park Young-sun, and I will dedicate myself to uniting the opposition, including former Prosecutor General Yoon," and raised his voice, "If you choose me, Ahn Cheol-soo, as the Seoul mayoral candidate who can win under any circumstances, who will not be questioned about the previous administration or city government, and who can expand the opposition’s support base to achieve regime change, that will be a victory in the Seoul mayoral election and open the path to regime change."

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