Despite Kim Jong-in's Offensive, Patient Ahn Cheol-soo Says "Let's Discuss It in the Working Meeting"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Ahn Cheol-soo, the People Power Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, attracted attention on the 2nd by maintaining a low-key attitude as an opposition candidate despite the cold response from the People Power Party leadership. He repeatedly emphasized the need to start with a working-level meeting and expressed his willingness to open an official dialogue channel regarding opposition unification.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

After visiting the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea on the same day, Ahn emphasized the need to hold a "working-level meeting" first regarding opposition unification during a meeting with reporters. He also repeatedly expressed that solutions could be found through discussions despite the somewhat uncomfortable reaction from the People Power Party.

Regarding the statement by Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, who said, "If he does not run as candidate number 2, he cannot support the election," Ahn said, "Once working-level consultations begin, there will be in-depth discussions," and added, "If we discuss what is legally possible, I think it will proceed smoothly."

Earlier, Kim Jong-in said at a meeting with reporters, "Unifying as a third-zone candidate cannot win the mayoral election." In response to reporters' remarks that Ahn's approval rating is higher than that of the People Power Party candidate, he also said, "The current approval rating is honestly not the real approval rating."

Regarding the proposal by Kim Geun-sik, head of the Vision and Strategy Office of the People Power Party, who mentioned a unification method involving voters ranging from the Taegeukgi group to the moderate middle ground rather than a polling method, Kim Jong-in said, "I think we can discuss such matters through working-level consultations."

Meanwhile, on the same day, Ahn visited the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea to introduce his economic pledges for Seoul mayor, including the Convergence Economy Innovation District, Seoul-style Tech City, and the Small Business Owner Safety Foundation, and listened to the difficulties foreign businesspeople face in the domestic business process.