Ahn Cheol-soo "Will Not Field Local Constituency Candidate"... Effectively Rejects Meeting with Kim Hyung-o (Comprehensive)

An's Self-Help Measures Following Adherence to Independent Line
Formation of 'District Anti-Moon Alliance' with Future United Party
"Will Lead Overall Opposition Victory in General Election"

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People Party, is holding a press conference at the National Assembly on the 28th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The People’s Party has officially declared that it will not field candidates in constituencies for the April 15 general election, effectively becoming a 'proportional representation party.' This is interpreted as a self-help measure taken by People’s Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo, who is maintaining an independent course. In political circles, this is seen as a de facto anti-Moon (anti-Moon Jae-in) alliance between the United Future Party and the People’s Party in the constituencies.

On the 28th, Leader Ahn held an emergency press conference at the National Assembly Press Hall, stating, "The People’s Party has decided not to field candidates in 253 constituency electoral districts in this general election," and added, "We will pioneer a practical centrist path through proportional representation nominations and lead innovation and policy competition not only among opposition parties but across all parties."

Leader Ahn said, "To the people who think that South Korea cannot continue as it is, please choose opposition candidates in the constituency elections to judge the Moon Jae-in administration, and in the party vote, select the cleanest, most innovative, and future-oriented party to surely change South Korean politics," and added, "I am confident that today’s decision will lead to the overall victory of the opposition in this general election."

Leader Ahn dismissed the possibility of integration or alliance with the United Future Party. On the same day on KBS radio, he said, "I have consistently said that there will be no integration or alliance with the United Future Party," and added, "There was a former bestseller titled 'One becomes an adult after being shaken a thousand times.' It means that whether a person or a party, they establish themselves properly through various trials. I think I have been shaken about 500 times by those around me. After another 500 times, I believe we will be able to properly settle."

Regarding the meeting proposal from Kim Hyung-oh, the United Future Party’s nomination committee chairman, Leader Ahn said, "I saw media reports that Chairman Kim said he wanted to meet, and I thought, 'There is no reason politicians cannot meet each other,'" but added, "However, since this is a national emergency situation for the next week, holding political events would be a nuisance to the people, so I said it would be better to focus on preventing the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19)."

Chairman Kim also expressed a negative outlook on meeting with Leader Ahn. Speaking to reporters at the National Assembly the previous day, Kim said about the possibility of a meeting with Ahn, "I don’t think I will receive any more contact from (Ahn’s side)," and added, "I am still ready to meet if contacted, but I don’t think it will happen for the time being." When asked why, he only replied, "I don’t think it will happen for the time being." He continued, "I sent a message saying I would meet. But I don’t think it will come." When asked if he had direct contact with Leader Ahn, Kim denied it, saying "No."