Ahn Cheol-soo, 'Yoon Core Supporters' and 'Decision to Break Up?' Did He Choose Public Sentiment Over Yoon's Favor?

An, Kwon Seong-dong Centered Reconciliation and New Emergency Committee Launch Faces Daily Opposition
Ruling Party's Support Consolidates Around 'Yoon's Mind'... "Don't Speak Out of Line Outside the General Assembly"
Analysis Suggests Focus on 'Public Sentiment' in Preparation for Party and Presidential Challenges

Ahn Cheol-soo, member of the People Power Party. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yoon-jin] Amid escalating internal conflicts within the ruling party, Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, appears to be distancing himself from the 'Yunshim (尹心, President Yoon Seok-yeol's will)'. As a leading candidate for the next party leadership and presidential election, Ahn is interpreted as trying to secure public support by drawing a line from the Yoon core group (Yunhaekgwan, key figures close to President Yoon) who are responsible for the party's turmoil.

On the 29th of last month, Ahn posted a direct criticism of the party leadership regarding the commencement of work to form a new Emergency Response Committee at the People Power Party's emergency committee meeting. On that day, he pointed out on his Facebook that the formation of the new emergency committee "does not align with the court's ruling and leads into a maze of legal disputes," urging the election of a new floor leader to return to a caretaker system and calling for the resignation of floor leader Kwon Seong-dong. This stance contrasts with his earlier positive view of Kwon's caretaker role following Lee Jun-seok's resignation earlier last month.

Ahn holds the position that there is no justification to form an emergency committee since the court ruled to suspend the duties of the emergency committee chair. On the 31st of last month, appearing on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' he said, "From the public's perspective, it may seem like the ruling party is fighting the court," and insisted, "We should return to the Supreme Council according to the court's judgment." The next day, on TV Chosun's 'News Parade,' he also criticized, "If the emergency committee is re-established and the court issues another injunction, there is no solution," thereby supporting the Supreme Council system. Besides Ahn, some senior lawmakers including Cho Kyung-tae and Seo Byung-soo oppose the launch of the emergency committee and argue for electing a new floor leader.

This stance conflicts with the views of many lawmakers, including first- and second-term members. Jang Je-won, considered the 'core of the core' among Yunhaekgwan, responded to reporters' questions about electing a new floor leader on the 29th of last month by saying, "If Floor Leader Kwon resigns, who will manage the party?" and questioned, "The majority of lawmakers agreed on a statement at the party meeting, so shouldn't that be respected? Would it help the party if people outside say different things?" The next day, first- and second-term lawmakers held separate meetings and pressured senior lawmakers opposing the new emergency committee launch to "refrain from actions and remarks that shake the party." Some media reported that President Yoon recently urged lawmakers to "support the party," leading many to rally around 'Yunshim.'

Kim Ki-hyun, another candidate for the next party leadership along with Ahn, also believes the situation should be managed around Floor Leader Kwon and the emergency committee should be formed. On the 1st, on BBS Radio's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal,' Kim refuted Ahn's claims, saying, "Since the party's constitution and regulations were amended to clearly provide grounds for the second emergency committee, whether the first emergency committee was invalid has nothing to do with the second." On the 30th of last month, he directly criticized Ahn on his Facebook, stating, "A lawmaker who wants to lead the party should clearly state their position at the party meeting instead of being ambiguous and later making statements that overturn the results, which only adds confusion."

The difference in views between the two lawmakers is interpreted as stemming from differences in their support bases. Kim, who previously served as floor leader and has strong support within the party, benefits from securing a clear advantage in 'party sentiment.' In contrast, Ahn, originally from the People Party, is evaluated as having an unstable base within the party despite his high recognition. Analysts suggest that Ahn, who has expressed intentions to run for both party leadership and the presidency, is aiming to capture the 'public sentiment' by targeting moderate voters, considering the negative public opinion toward Yunhaekgwan. On the 1st, Ahn responded to Kim's remarks by saying, "You will see who truly conveys the public sentiment properly by looking at the results," setting up a confrontation.

Meanwhile, some predict that a non-Yoon Seok-yeol or anti-Yunhaekgwan faction could consolidate around Ahn, who is at odds with the majority of the party. However, Ahn draws a line, stating he has no intention of colluding or confronting specific individuals or factions. On the 31st of last month, he emphasized, "I am not taking sides with Lee Jun-seok or anyone else. I am trying to find a solution," adding, "The party's problems should be solved by all party members collectively, using collective intelligence."

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