"'Chinyun' Rally Ahn Cheol-soo's First Debate: 'We Must Unite with the Mindset of an 'Insoo Board Season 2''"

Jung Jin-seok, Bae Hyun-jin and Over 40 Others
Intense Behind-the-Scenes Competition Among Party Leadership Candidates

Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, attended the "Beyond Crisis to the Future, Civil-Military-Political Discussion" held at the National Assembly on the 12th and is seen talking with Jeong Jin-seok, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Boryeong Geum] Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, held a debate forum for the first time since joining the party on the 12th. As he is considered a leading candidate for the next party leadership, this gathering is expected to influence factional consolidation. Although the controversy over an early party convention has subsided, the behind-the-scenes competition among the next party leadership candidates seems to be ongoing.

On this day, Ahn held a civil-party-government debate forum under the theme "Global Economic Crisis and Our Response Direction." More than 40 current lawmakers attended, including Jeong Jin-seok and Bae Hyun-jin, who are classified as pro-Yoon faction, as well as Kim Jeong-jae and Lim E-ja, who worked together in the Presidential Transition Committee. Although the number of attendees was somewhat smaller than at the "Future Innovation Forum" hosted by Jang Je-won, it resembled a party caucus meeting. Jeong Jeom-sik, whom Ahn recommended as a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, was also present.

The meeting was conducted in a debate forum format. Leveraging Ahn’s experience as the head of the Transition Committee, the forum featured a diverse pool of participants. The presentations were given by Kim Hyung-tae, Chief Economist at Kim & Chang, and Sung Tae-yoon, Professor of Economics at Yonsei University. The discussion panel included lawmaker Yoon Chang-hyun, Kim So-young, Vice Chairman of the Financial Services Commission, Bang Ki-seon, First Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance, and Jeong Dae-hee, Director of the KDI Global Economy Division.

Before the forum, Ahn said, "All participants, discussants, and presenters worked hard at the Transition Committee," adding, "Since they are people who have thought deeply about this issue and understand it well, I hope we can find solutions." He emphasized, "If the party and the presidential office unite as one team and work hard with the mindset of 'Transition Committee Season 2,' we can regain public trust and expectations."

Although Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, is acting as the party leader, variables may arise at any time over the next six months, such as the results of the police investigation into leader Lee Jun-seok, intensifying the competition for the next party leadership. Kim Ki-hyun, who launched the first study group, will hold the second meeting of "Innovation 24 New Future (Saemirae)" on the 13th. Jeong Jin-seok, who serves as the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly in the latter half, is also expected to resume his study group soon. Both Jeong and Kim attended the meeting on this day.

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