Seoul Mayor Candidate Oh Se-hoon of People Power Party Accepts Proposal
Full Negotiation Authority Should Be Granted to Candidate Oh of People Power Party
Oh Se-hoon "Welcome, Let's Resume Negotiations"
[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Ahn Cheol-soo, the People’s Party candidate for Seoul mayor, announced on the 18th, "I will fully accept the polling method proposed this morning by Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate." Oh responded to Ahn’s acceptance by saying, "I welcome it." With both candidates agreeing on the polling method, the possibility of unification through a poll on the 19th has been revived.
Regarding the breakdown of the agreement on unifying opposition candidates through the poll scheduled for the 19th, Ahn issued an urgent statement saying, "The working negotiation team pointed out several issues, saying that the proposal by (Oh) was unreasonable, but I will accept it for the greater good." He added, "I just received a report from the secretary-general that further agreement through the unification negotiation team is no longer possible, making it inevitable for each candidate to register separately," but also said, "Although time is tight, I believe there is still time. I will not let go of the last thread of negotiation."
Ahn said, "I would appreciate it if the People Power Party also respects Oh’s opinion and entrusts him with full authority," and added, "I believe that achieving unification of opposition candidates by any means is a political duty to all supporters of the broader opposition."
Earlier, Oh appeared on YTN Radio’s 'Hwang Bo-seon’s Start Morning' and proposed, "One polling agency should ask about competitiveness and suitability, and another should ask about suitability and competitiveness, then combine the results." Following Ahn’s sudden acceptance of the negotiation plan mixing competitiveness and suitability, Oh said, "Now the negotiation team should promptly resume talks and prepare detailed plans," and added, "I sincerely hope that the promise to register a unified candidate will be kept in response to the public’s wish for unification."
Previously, Jung Yang-seok, secretary-general of the People Power Party, and Lee Tae-gyu, secretary-general of the People’s Party, said regarding candidate unification, "It has become difficult to keep the promise of completing the poll today and registering a unified candidate tomorrow," adding, "It has become difficult both physically and politically. Nevertheless, we will not let go of the unification effort and will continue to work hard."
Following confirmation of the final breakdown by the two secretary-generals and the preparation of a new negotiation plan, the working negotiation team is expected to resume talks.
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