Ha Tae-kyung: "There is still time for unification talks... Yoon must put effort into 'Samgochorye'"

"Changes may still occur and there is ample time"
"It is only right for candidate Yoon to show sincere effort"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party presidential candidate (left), shaking hands with Ahn Cheol-soo, the People’s Party candidate / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, has left open the possibility of unification between presidential candidates Yoon Seok-yeol and Ahn Cheol-soo of the People’s Party. He urged Yoon to put more effort into the unification negotiations, calling for a 'three visits' approach.

On the afternoon of the 22nd, Ha said on TBS Traffic Broadcasting’s 'Shin Jang-sik’s New Opening,' "A day before the vote feels like a month," adding, "Even on the morning of the 20th, when Ahn announced that 'poll-based unification is over,' various incidents occurred."

He continued, "The atmosphere was good in the morning but suddenly turned bad again. There can still be many changes ahead, and there is enough time for that," emphasizing that there is still an opportunity to engage in unification talks.

When the broadcaster pointed out that "there is no unified opinion within the People Power Party regarding unification," Ha responded, "The same applies to the People’s Party."

Ha Tae-kyung, Member of the People Power Party / Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

He added, "Within the People’s Party, there are voices both for and against Ahn Cheol-soo withdrawing his candidacy to pursue unification," and asserted, "The majority of the people who want a regime change have already concluded that it must be centered around candidate Yoon Seok-yeol."

Ha said, "There are pros and cons within our party as well, but the consensus is on candidate unification through negotiation," emphasizing, "Representative Lee Jun-seok does not oppose this either. We are seeing unity on this point."

He also urged Yoon, saying, "He needs to put more effort into unification. Even if it means visiting Ahn’s home three times, he must show sincere dedication," and added, "An overwhelming majority of the people who want regime change desire candidate unification, so it is the natural duty of the current leading candidate in the polls to meet the public’s hopes and expectations."

Candidate Ahn declared the breakdown of unification talks with Candidate Yoon at a National Assembly press conference on the 20th. / Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, on the 20th, candidate Ahn held an emergency press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall and declared the breakdown of opposition unification talks.

He said, "I apologize to the people who were confused by my unification proposal. I gave candidate Yoon a sufficient period of one week within the three weeks before the main election. The responsibility for the failure of unification lies with the main opposition party and candidate Yoon."

Referring to his proposal on the 13th for unification through a national primary poll method, Ahn said, "I took the risk of criticism and ridicule for 'trying to withdraw again' and made a bold unification proposal, but candidate Yoon gave no response whatsoever," adding, "I concluded that waiting any longer for a reply was meaningless."

He continued, "Various people from the main opposition party shamelessly spread political slanders such as 'candidate withdrawal rumors' and 'governor of Gyeonggi Province deal theories' during our party’s misfortune (the campaign bus fatal accident). My sincerity was brutally crushed and trampled because of the other side," and criticized, "This is an utterly shameless act. It is political etiquette for candidate Yoon to respond directly when I make a proposal, but no responsible reply came from him. Waiting any longer would only hurt and insult party members and supporters."

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