Wu Strengthens 'Reform Right-Wing' Front... Ahn Cheol-soo and Geum Tae-seop as Joint Election Committee Chairs

On the 24th, Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral candidate, and Geum Tae-seop, co-chairman of the joint election countermeasures committee, attended the election countermeasures committee meeting held at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, and took a commemorative photo before the meeting started. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] Following Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, former Democratic Party lawmaker Geum Tae-seop has taken on the role of co-chief of the joint campaign committee for Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party’s Seoul mayoral candidate, marking the full-scale consolidation of the opposition forces behind a 'single candidate.' This is aimed at solidifying the so-called 'reformist right-wing' front. They are expected to help secure the opposition’s victory by expanding support for Oh, whose backing among moderate voters is relatively weak.

According to Oh’s campaign on the 24th, former lawmaker Geum joined the election campaign committee as co-chief on the same day. It is reported that Oh personally called Geum to request his participation. Geum attended the campaign committee meeting wearing a red jumper marked with ‘People Power Party.’ At a meeting with reporters, he explained, "As someone who participated in the unification process of this election, I was determined to do everything I could with the mindset that only by winning can normal politics be restored." However, he drew a line regarding joining the People Power Party, saying, "I have no plans." Before Oh unified with Ahn as the opposition candidate, Geum had proposed a third-zone unification to Ahn, competing for the position.

Earlier, Ahn also accepted the position of co-chief of the joint campaign committee at Oh’s request following the announcement of the unification primary results the previous day. At a press briefing held at the National Assembly at 10 a.m. on the same day, Oh said, "We promised to help each other using all possible methods, from joint rallies with Ahn to broadcast debates and YouTube campaigns in this untact (non-face-to-face) election era," adding, "I believe all imaginable campaign methods will be possible."

In particular, Oh emphasized creating a ‘one team’ based on mutual understanding with Ahn. They plan to start by sharing policies and forming a policy consultation team. Regarding the joint operation of Seoul city, Oh explained, "We are coordinating which pledges from both sides can be consolidated." It is understood that the secretaries-general of the People Power Party and the People’s Party have begun serious discussions to launch the joint campaign committee. Ahn attended the People Power Party’s lawmakers’ meeting as an invited guest at 11 a.m. that day.

Ahn and former lawmaker Geum plan to focus on appealing to moderate voters while checking the ruling power. Although Oh advocates for a ‘warm conservative’ and ‘reform conservative’ stance, since he is running under the name of a conservative party, it remains uncertain whether he can attract all the favor of moderate voters, which is why the roles of these two are anticipated. Geum said, "It is necessary to appeal not only to the traditional opposition supporters but also to the moderate voters," adding, "I will also play that role."

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