Yoon Seok-yeol and Ahn Cheol-soo Declare Unification... Ruling Party Calls It "Unusual Collusion" vs Opposition Thanks for "Courage to Merge"

Yoon and Ahn Declare Candidate Unification... "Agreeing to Unite for a Better Regime Change"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, are posing after concluding a unification press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on the morning of the 3rd. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] The ruling and opposition parties have shown mixed reactions to the announcement on the 3rd of the unification of opposition presidential candidates Yoon Seok-yeol of the People Power Party and Ahn Cheol-soo of the People Party. While the ruling party criticized the unification agreement as a 'peculiar collusion' and a 'betrayal by the intellectuals,' the People Power Party warmly welcomed candidate Ahn.

Earlier that day at 8 a.m., candidates Yoon and Ahn held a joint press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office, stating, "We have united our intentions for a 'better regime change' to create a better Republic of Korea."

They said, "The two of us are one team," adding, "We will complement each other's shortcomings and achieve regime change, creating a successful administration through a mutually complementary, competent, and prepared executive branch." Candidate Ahn expressed unconditional support for candidate Yoon, and the two agreed to form a unified government starting from the transition committee after winning the presidential election.

In response, members of the Democratic Party of Korea voiced criticism. Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Min-seok mentioned the unification of the two candidates on his Facebook, saying, "It was not that shocking," and recalled, "Perhaps because of the experience 20 years ago. On the day before the 2002 presidential election, candidate Chung Mong-joon withdrew his support for Roh Moo-hyun, and I, who was pushing for a Roh-Chung unification, was in despair."

He continued, "Having decided to leave politics, I issued a statement supporting Roh Moo-hyun as a last duty, voted, and fell into a deep sleep like an abyss. Watching Roh's miracle on TV, I cried bitterly. Since that day, I fundamentally do not believe in political engineering."

He also said, "The era of political engineering ended 20 years ago. It is not engineering but the people who decide, and public sentiment is the will of heaven," emphasizing, "Since candidates Yoon and Ahn united late at night, can we call it Yoon-Ahn's 'peculiar collusion'? It will not work, and I will believe in the people's victory."

Kim Woo-young, spokesperson for the Democratic Party's presidential campaign committee, also posted on Facebook, saying, "Is this a betrayal by weak intellectuals?" and added, "Even if candidate Ahn withdraws, the train keeps moving. People do not change. We must change the world." He further added, "There is always a way out, even if the sky splits in two."

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, are shaking hands after concluding a unification press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on the morning of the 3rd. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the other hand, the People Power Party welcomed the news of the unification of candidates Yoon and Ahn. Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, said on his Facebook before the unification press conference, "I welcome Ahn Cheol-soo, who made the big decision to become a member of the People Power Party for the great cause of regime change, and the members of the People Party," and expressed gratitude for "the courage to declare unconditional support for our candidate and decide on the merger."

He added, "I hope there will be no confusion like after the last Seoul mayoral election," and emphasized, "Considering the local elections, we will complete the practical procedures for the merger within one week after the presidential election ends so that political activities of People Party members within the People Power Party can proceed smoothly in local elections and others."

Furthermore, he said, "All members of the People Power Party should warmly welcome the members of the People Party starting today. The principle of fair competition will be open and applied to anyone, including those from the People Party, within the People Power Party."

People Power Party lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo also expressed pleasure at the unification news. When asked about the candidate unification on his political platform 'Youth's Dream,' he said, "Now I can comfortably win by a landslide."

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