Park Ji-won "Ahn Cheol-soo, a storm in a teacup"... Ahn's side "Stop and retire"

by Lim Chunhan

Published 11 Jan.2020 09:00(KST)

Park Ji-won on the Third Zone: "Will be unified by early March"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] On the 10th, Park Ji-won, a member of the Alternative New Party, commented on Ahn Cheol-soo, the former Bareunmirae Party lawmaker who declared his return to politics, saying, "There are still people who remember the Ahn Cheol-soo phenomenon, so he has considerable influence, but it will be a 'tempest in a teacup.'"

On the same day, on BBS Radio's 'Lee Sang-hwi's Morning Journal,' Park said, "To be honest, there is still no figure to lead the (third zone)."

Regarding the integration and alliance with the Bareunmirae Party and the Party for Democracy and Peace, Park said, "There have been many discussions in January and February, and integration will be completed by early March," adding, "There is enough time."

About the '4+1' coalition (Democratic Party of Korea, Bareunmirae Party, Justice Party, Party for Democracy and Peace + Alternative New Party), with which budget and reform legislation cooperation has been ongoing, Park said, "We will continue to maintain the 4+1 system, and during the general election, there should be competition in Honam and cooperation in non-Honam regions," adding, "After the presidential election, the idea is to integrate."

Kim Do-sik, former chief of staff and close aide to former lawmaker Ahn, sharply criticized Park. In a message sent to reporters on the same day, Kim said, "I thought it was just an old politician's pastime and stayed silent, but it seems a bit excessive," adding, "If the purpose is to entertain the public with hearsay-level remarks, it would be better to retire now and fully step forward as a professional broadcaster."

Regarding Park's statement on the 8th on the radio that Ahn was 'originally conservative but disguised himself as progressive,' Kim said, "Forcing Ahn's vision into a binary ideological choice is exactly the divisive tactic of the old forces steeped in ideology," and added, "Please refrain from the idea and reckless remarks that intend to run for parliament again by parasitizing regionalism and stirring up regional sentiments."