Ahn Cheol-soo's 'Proportional Party' Declaration... "Is It the Future United Party's Second Faction?"

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Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s 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] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, officially declared the 'proportional representation party' strategy of not fielding candidates in constituencies for the April 15 general election. By completely giving up on constituency elections, Ahn is interpreted as indirectly accepting pressure from the anti-Moon Jae-in coalition. In political circles, criticism is also emerging that the People’s Party has effectively become a second-tier party for the United Future Party.

On the 28th, Ahn held a press conference at the National Assembly Press Hall and stated, “We have decided not to field candidates in 253 constituency districts in this general election,” adding, “Instead, we will pioneer a practical centrist path through proportional representation nominations and lead innovation competition and policy competition not only among opposition parties but across all parties.”

Ahn emphasized, “To the citizens who believe that South Korea cannot continue as it is, please choose opposition candidates in constituency elections to judge the Moon Jae-in administration, and in party votes, 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.”

Although Ahn euphemistically said ‘opposition candidates,’ it essentially means voting for United Future Party candidates in constituencies. Instead, the People’s Party aims to maximize seats by absorbing party votes. Regarding this, Park Won-seok, Policy Committee Chair of the Justice Party, wrote on Facebook that day, “As lawmakers and close aides turn their backs one by one, is the best they can do to become the United Future Party’s second-tier party? They will soon merge with the Future Korea Party,” and criticized, “Ahn Cheol-soo’s politics are finished with this.”

Ahn’s decision to give up on constituency elections is also closely related to the party’s persistently low approval ratings. According to a survey conducted by Korea Gallup from the 25th to 27th among 1,001 adults aged 18 and over (response rate 15%, margin of error ±3.1 percentage points at 95% confidence level), the People’s Party’s approval rating was only 2%. For detailed information, refer to the Central Election Survey Deliberation Commission website.

Going forward, the movement of Ahn Cheol-soo faction members to the United Future Party is expected to accelerate. Following lawmakers Kim Jung-ro and Lee Dong-seop, lawmakers Kim Soo-min, Kim Sam-hwa, and Shin Yong-hyun have also decided to join the United Future Party. Previously, Jang Hwan-jin, vice chairman of the People’s Party Founding Preparation Committee Executive Committee, and Kim Cheol-geun, head of the People’s Party Founding Preparation Committee Public Relations Team, both prominent non-parliamentary figures of the Ahn faction, also joined the United Future Party.