[Summary] "Do it alone" "How many times forming a party" Ahn's new party formation theory... People Power Party's cold response

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People Party, attended and gave a lecture at the People’s Future Forum seminar titled "Post-Corona Era, South Korea's Innovation Tasks and Future Vision," held on the morning of the 6th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News.

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[Asia Economy reporters Han Seung-gon and Kang Joo-hee] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, proposed the creation of a new opposition party uniting the entire opposition camp for the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections scheduled for April next year. However, within the opposition parties, cynical reactions have been emerging day after day.

Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, met with reporters after the emergency committee meeting on the 9th and said, "Our party is not one that will be swept away just because a certain politician says something from outside," adding, "I have no interest in whether some members sympathize with Leader Ahn or not," dismissing the idea.

Chairman Kim also said on the previous day (the 8th), "(Regarding the new party creation theory) I have no interest," and added, "(Leader Ahn) can do it alone if he wants to, how can we stop him? He has no choice but to do it alone."

Ji Sang-wook, research committee member of the People Power Party in Yeouido, wrote on his Facebook on the 9th, "Is this the fifth time creating a party in nine years since entering politics?" and criticized, "Innovation does not mean unconditionally uniting all opposition parties. Then, is the Justice Party also a target for unification since it is part of the opposition?"

Ji further targeted Leader Ahn, saying, "We have heard a lot about innovation. The public still does not understand what exactly you want to do," and criticized, "You just want to become the owner by forming an anti-Moon (anti-President Moon Jae-in) coalition. Stop it now. You have shrunk a lot."

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 9th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

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Some opposition lawmakers agree on the need to join forces with Leader Ahn but believe that for opposition reorganization, Leader Ahn should be incorporated into the People Power Party.

Spokesperson Bae Jun-young emphasized in a briefing on the 8th, "We are the first opposition party," and added, "To correct the current wrong administration and confront President Moon Jae-in, the platform that serves as the focal point can only be our party."

Floor leader Joo Ho-young also met with reporters after a livelihood policy meeting at the National Assembly on the 9th and said, "I agree that we need to join forces through some process," but expressed skepticism about whether the new party or innovation platform proposed by Leader Ahn is feasible.

On the same day, lawmaker Jung Jin-seok posted on his Facebook, "Politicians aiming for the next power tend to pursue independent actions. It is quite self-centered," seemingly targeting Leader Ahn.

Jung added, "Political power is influenced by centrifugal and centripetal forces. But now is a time when centripetal force, which pulls toward the center, is more needed than centrifugal force, which pushes outward," arguing that rather than creating a new party, Leader Ahn should come into the People Power Party.

Lawmaker Sung Il-jong also appeared on CBS Radio’s 'Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show' and said, "If necessary, I think it is right for (Leader Ahn) to come into the People Power Party and reorganize."

Kim Geun-sik, head of the Seoul Songpa-byeong party committee, said in an interview with MBC Radio’s 'Kim Jong-bae’s Focus' that "Raising issues about opposition candidate unification and the opposition’s Seoul mayoral citizen candidate primary process is quite reasonable," but evaluated, "Suddenly talking about creating a new party or gathering in a third space is somewhat abrupt."

However, there are also positive reactions within the party to Leader Ahn’s new party creation theory.

Lawmaker Jang Je-won wrote on Facebook on the 9th, "Because it is difficult to overcome the political situation with only the People Power Party’s strength and to win the by-elections and the presidential election, there is a need to deeply consider the opposition reorganization theory," adding, "It is something that should be done quickly."

Earlier, on the 6th, Leader Ahn argued for the creation of a new opposition unified party, saying that a "new platform" is necessary for regime change during a lecture at the 'People’s Future Forum,' a research group jointly participated in by People Power Party and People’s Party lawmakers.

At the Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on the 9th, he emphasized, "It is not simply an anti-Moon, anti-Democratic Party coalition, but a reform coalition, future coalition, and people’s coalition that can produce and implement a vision for change and innovation in the Republic of Korea," and stressed, "The best method I have thought of at this moment of crisis for the opposition and the Republic of Korea is an innovation platform."

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