"Realizing Regime Change" vs "Judging Collusion": Ruling and Opposition on Edge Over 'Ahn Cheol-soo Style' Direction

Yoon and Ahn Unification Variable Keeps Politics Busy
"Regime Change Nearer" Opposition Cheers
"Divide-and-Share Collusion" Ruling Party Criticizes

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People Party, are shaking hands after concluding a unification press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on the morning of the 3rd. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] On the 3rd, one day before the early voting for the 20th presidential election, Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and Ahn Cheol-soo, the candidate of the People’s Party, declared a 'unification of opposition candidates.' Both ruling and opposition parties seem busy calculating how this unification will actually affect voter sentiment. Some claim that Yoon’s path to victory has solidified through the opposition unification, while others argue that the sudden unification right before the election could instead cause a 'backlash.'

On the same day, Yoon and Ahn held a joint press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office and abruptly announced their unification. In their joint declaration, the two candidates stated, "We have agreed on the intention for a regime change as the beginning of making a better Republic of Korea, that is, a 'better regime change,'" and added, "We firmly believe without a shadow of a doubt that perfect regime change will be realized through today’s unification declaration."

They continued, "We will definitely achieve regime change and prepare for a new era of great transformation for Korea’s change and innovation solely according to the will of the people," and "By complementing each other’s shortcomings, we will surely achieve regime change and create a successful administration through a mutually complementary, competent, and prepared executive branch."

They explained, "The national unity government will not be a government where the president governs alone," and "We will respond to history and the will of the people by consulting together on the formation of the transition committee and the joint government." They also agreed to pursue a merger between the People Power Party and the People’s Party immediately after the presidential election.

On the afternoon of the 3rd, candidate Yoon appealed for support from citizens at a campaign event in Sejong City. / Photo by Yonhap News

Following Kim Dong-yeon, leader of the New Wave, who withdrew from the presidential race on the 2nd in support of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, Ahn’s declaration of unification suggests that this presidential election will likely become a three-way race among Lee Jae-myung, Yoon Seok-yeol, and Sim Sang-jung of the Justice Party.

At the press conference, Yoon and Ahn emphasized, "Regime change will be realized through today’s unification," but opinions remain divided in political circles. While some evaluate that Yoon has taken a step closer to winning the presidency, others point out that there are still many variables before the outcome is certain.

Kwon Young-se, head of the People Power Party’s election campaign headquarters, expressed his expectations on his Facebook, saying, "I thank candidate Ahn Cheol-soo for his generous decision to withdraw unconditionally," and "The national desire for regime change has come much closer."

He added, "I ask the people to give overwhelming support and encouragement to candidate Yoon, who is moving toward true national unity."

Hong Joon-pyo, also from the same party, claimed on his communication platform 'Youth’s Dream,' "Now I will comfortably achieve a complete victory."

On the other hand, the ruling party criticized the opposition unification as a 'collusion.'

Woo Sang-ho, head of the Democratic Party’s general election campaign headquarters, said at a meeting with reporters after an emergency meeting with headquarters leaders, "The sudden unification of the two candidates at dawn is a collusion to divide positions," and added, "The people are wise. They have observed the entire process so far, so a strict judgment will be made on this."

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, who launched a focused campaign in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, is greeting together with Kim Dong-yeon, the New Wave candidate who supported him. / Photo by Yonhap News

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Min-seok wrote on his social media, "On the day before the 2002 presidential election, there was a withdrawal of support by candidate Chung Mong-joon for candidate Roh Moo-hyun, and I, who was pushing for unification, was in despair," and recalled, "I decided to leave politics, made a final statement supporting Roh, voted, and then fell into a deep sleep like a pit. Watching Roh’s miraculous victory on TV, I cried my heart out."

He added, "Since that day, I fundamentally do not believe in political engineering. It is not political engineering but the people who decide, and public sentiment is the will of heaven," and criticized, "Since candidates Yoon and Ahn united late at night, can we call it Yoon-Ahn’s 'peculiar collusion'? It will not work."

Experts analyze that while the opposition unification is likely to help Yoon’s approval ratings, there is also a possibility of a 'reverse consolidation' toward candidate Lee on the actual voting day.

Lee Taek-soo, CEO of the polling agency Realmeter, said in an interview with YTN Radio’s 'Hwang Bo-seon’s Start New Morning' on the same day, "It is certain that this unification helps candidate Yoon. According to the poll cited by Korea Gallup, Yoon’s approval rating rose more after unification than in a multi-candidate race," but he also explained, "Looking at past presidential election cases, there is a hypothesis that the opposing candidate’s support base consolidated instead. Therefore, while it may not affect the main vote, there is a hypothesis that there could be a reverse consolidation among candidate Lee’s supporters during the early voting on the 4th and 5th."

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