Approval Ratings Boosted for Ahn, Focuses on Criticizing Lee for Now

Ruling Party Creating a 'Yanggang Structure'
Criticism Also Rising Toward President Moon Jae-in

Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, is attending the Central Election Countermeasures Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 10th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] On the 10th, Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, whose approval ratings have recently surged, reiterated his stance that "there will be no unification." While the political circles largely expect that unification talks between Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and Ahn are 'inevitable,' from Ahn’s perspective, who feels there is 'no rush,' emphasizing his intention to complete the presidential race is seen as advantageous. Meanwhile, Ahn is employing an election strategy that sharply criticizes the ruling party and its candidate rather than Yoon.

During the election committee meeting that morning, Ahn opened by saying, "Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, is making dazzling policy moves," adding, "It’s so chaotic that it’s hard to keep one’s mind straight." The biggest issues he pointed out were the nationwide disaster relief funds and the application of health insurance for hair loss. Ahn said, "These people want to do everything on credit, so what interest would they have in an empty national treasury, the future of the youth, or the future of Korea?" He criticized, "This is exactly the typical ‘eat-and-run regime’ that just takes advantage during their term and then disappears."

He also raised his voice in criticism toward President Moon Jae-in. Ahn particularly condemned the late-term 'entrenchment appointments' and 'favor appointments,' stating, "What the Moon administration is doing is not simply entrenching people but planting landmines and building barricades to obstruct the new government’s planned national reform tasks." The government appointed Ahn Il-hwan, former Blue House economic secretary and head of the urea solution response team, as ambassador to the OECD delegation, and the Ministry of Justice has announced plans to promote prosecutors to senior positions.

Ahn’s focus on criticizing the government and ruling party is interpreted as a strategy to formalize the 'two-strong candidate phase' between himself and the Democratic Party. In contrast, Ahn maintains a certain distance without directly attacking the People Power Party or Yoon. After the election committee meeting, Ahn told reporters, "There will be no unification," and Kwon Eun-hee, a People’s Party lawmaker, said on YTN radio, "Ahn and the People’s Party will proceed with the long-prepared plan to complete the race." Kwon also said, "Before the Lunar New Year holiday, a two-strong candidate structure between Ahn and another candidate will be formed, and such an atmosphere is taking shape."

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