Oh Se-hoon and Ahn Cheol-soo, Sharp Differences in Practical Negotiations... Possibility of 'Overnight Meeting'

Only Confirming Differences in Positions Such as Poll Questions and Party Name Representation

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Negotiations for unification between Oh Se-hoon, the Seoul mayoral candidate of the People Power Party, and Ahn Cheol-soo, the Seoul mayoral candidate of the People’s Party, are at an impasse. With the public opinion survey for candidate unification just a day away, the working-level negotiation teams from both sides continue talks but only repeat their existing positions.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 16th, the working-level negotiation teams from the People Power Party and the People’s Party met at the National Assembly for the 5th round of talks on unifying the Seoul mayoral candidates, but both sides only confirmed a significant gap in their positions.

Jung Yang-seok, Secretary-General of the People Power Party, briefly met with reporters during the negotiations and said, "We told each party not to discuss their positions with the media but to try to resolve it here," adding, "It would be good if the other side accepted and understood, but each is on a parallel track."

Both sides showed disagreements not only over the wording of the public opinion survey questions but also on whether to mention the party name before the candidate’s name.

Lee Tae-gyu, Secretary-General of the People’s Party, expressed opposition to including the party name, saying, "I think it’s nonsense to put the party name before the Seoul mayor’s name." Secretary-General Jung responded, "Isn’t it basic?," indicating that the party name should be included.

Both sides expected the negotiations to be prolonged. Seong Il-jong, an emergency committee member of the People’s Party participating in the negotiation team, said, "We need to bring a bed, not just a lunchbox, and talk all night."

However, there is also analysis that remarks by Representative Ahn on CBS Radio’s ‘Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show’?such as ‘It seems most certain that the ballot and the public opinion survey questions match’?could serve as a kind of negotiation point.

On the same day, Kwon Eun-hee, floor leader of the People’s Party, appeared on KBS Radio’s ‘Choi Kyung-young’s Strong Current Affairs’ and said, "Even if it’s delayed, these parts should be settled by tomorrow morning." This suggests that the negotiation deadline could effectively extend until tomorrow morning.

Moreover, it was confirmed that the biggest disagreement between the two sides?the public opinion survey questions?will essentially be discussed from scratch. Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, appeared on CBS Radio’s ‘Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show’ and introduced, "So far, the negotiation team has not officially discussed this issue (public opinion survey questions)."

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