[So Jongseop's Political Analysis] How Will the 'Ahn Cheolsoo Campaign Staff Accident' Affect Unification?

Published 16 Feb.2022 14:22(KST)

Yoon Seok-yeol Expected to Maintain 'Delay in Unification'
Unification Timeline May Accelerate Following Yoon's Condolence Visit

People's Party presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo is seen with a somber expression as he leaves the funeral hall at Dankook University Hospital in Cheonan, where the deceased from the fatal accident that occurred on the campaign bus on the afternoon of the 15th are laid to rest.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Two people died and one was hospitalized in an accident involving Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, during his campaign bus tour. Candidate Ahn suspended his campaign and visited the funeral hall of the hospital where the deceased were laid to rest to console the bereaved families.

In presidential elections, where candidates have hectic schedules and promotional and professional organizations are fully mobilized, unfortunate accidents like this often occur. A representative case was on December 2, 2012, during the 18th presidential election, when Lee Chun-sang, a close aide of Park Geun-hye, the Saenuri Party candidate for 15 years, died in a traffic accident in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province. At that time, the Saenuri Party banned logo songs and choreographed movements for a day among nationwide campaign teams.

What is noteworthy is how this accident will affect the recently surfaced “opposition unity.” On the surface, a pause seems inevitable. Since Candidate Ahn proposed unification to Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party candidate, on the 13th, Yoon’s side has yet to provide a clear response. They are responding to Ahn’s side’s demand to “answer quickly” with strategic delay tactics. This trend is expected to continue for the time being. The first turning point will be on the 28th, when the ballots are printed.

However, it could be delayed further. It is worth noting that Yoon only stepped in to resolve conflicts after they nearly reached a peak with Representative Lee Jun-seok and Assemblyman Hong Joon-pyo. Yoon’s side believes their support base is increasingly consolidating, while the possibility of Ahn’s support rate rising is slim. They argue that the one holding the decisive power is Yoon, not Ahn. Considering difficulties such as financial issues, the political future already leaning toward the conservative side?such as unification with People Power Party candidate Oh Se-hoon during the April 7 by-elections?they see limited options and are pressuring Ahn.

Of course, politics is a living organism, so variables exist. Today, Yoon will visit the funeral hall of Ahn’s campaign worker. If a consensus is reached with Candidate Ahn, the unification timeline could accelerate.