[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Former Supreme Council Member Lee Jun-seok of the United Future Party hinted at the possibility of Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, running for Seoul mayor, saying that one of Ahn’s close aides had asked him about his intention to run.
On the 15th, Lee appeared on CBS Radio’s "Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show" and said, "Recently, one of Ahn’s closest aides asked me, ‘How about running?’"
He added, "Of course, Ahn could play a role until the presidential election, but if he takes part in the by-election beforehand and achieves good results, it would revive the overall atmosphere of the People’s Party," while refraining from commenting on the possibility of a unified candidate with the United Future Party.
In response, Park Won-seok, Policy Committee Chair of the Justice Party, said, "There will be by-elections in two places, Busan and Seoul, and the media speculates that Ahn might run as a candidate for Busan mayor, but I don’t think that will happen at all," adding, "Various people are mentioned within the United Future Party, but their freshness is very lacking, so naturally, the Ahn card could emerge under cooperation with the People’s Party."
Regarding the ruling party’s candidate for Seoul mayor, former Supreme Council Member Lee named Park Ju-min of the Democratic Party, while Policy Committee Chair Park mentioned Minister Park Young-sun, Minister Choo Mi-ae, and Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin.
Concerning the late Mayor Park Won-soon’s passing, Policy Committee Chair Park criticized the attitudes of Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan and United Future Party emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in. He said, "Leader Lee, in a way, triggered various secondary victim-blaming remarks within the Democratic Party," and "Chairman Kim brought up the topic of the by-election at an emergency party meeting the morning after the late Mayor Park’s passing."
Former Supreme Council Member Lee also expressed concern, saying, "It is worrisome that partisan logic is being further strengthened through this incident," and "At this moment, those who pursue selective justice?being infinitely lenient toward people on our side and infinitely harsh toward the opposing side?will likely face criticism once again."
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