[Exclusive] Kim Kyung-ryul Who Met Ahn Cheol-soo: "If It Had Been Ahn Cheol-soo 5 Years Ago, There Would Have Been a Craze... No Party to Vote For"

Former Bareunmirae Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo is having a conversation with former People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy Executive Director Kim Kyung-yul at Dalgaebi in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 21st. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] "If Ahn Cheol-soo had appeared five years ago... it's regrettable."

This is a kind of 'straightforward pitch' thrown by accountant Kim Kyung-ryul, who left the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy due to disagreements over the 'Cho Kuk incident,' when he met former People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo on the 21st.

In a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 28th, Kim said, "I spoke frankly. I said that if Ahn Cheol-soo had appeared five years ago in this situation, it would have caused a tremendous reaction and truly sparked a craze, so it's regrettable."

In the 2016 general election, the People's Party created a wave by winning 38 seats, but in the current environment where the middle ground between progressives and conservatives has widened, it is evaluated that Ahn's influence would have been much greater if he had maintained his image at that time.

Conversely, this can be interpreted as saying that the 'Ahn Cheol-soo effect' is not as strong as before. Kim said, "(Former leader Ahn) only spoke about the fundamental idea of politics for the youth," adding, "Many people see neither the Democratic Party nor the Liberty Korea Party as trustworthy, so if someone reliable would just pave the way, a big flame would erupt, but such a person is not visible."

Currently, Kim's position is not to participate in any camp, including former leader Ahn's. He said, "I have received recruitment offers from several places but declined all," adding, "As a generation that has eaten away at the future of the youth, I feel sorry. I want to support a party that sincerely pursues the keywords youth and future, but I don't see one."

Kim has generally walked alongside the Justice Party, but at least this time, he said it is a different path. This is also due to disagreements over the 'Cho Kuk incident.' Kim said, "At least, it doesn't seem like the attitude a progressive party should take. For now, there is no party to vote for."

Kim is preparing to establish a civic group called 'Economic Democracy 21' together with Professor Jeon Seong-in of Hongik University and others.