Ahn Cheol-soo Changed from 3 Years Ago... Focusing on 'Opposition Grand Unification'

Failure to unify with Kim Moon-soo, Liberty Korea Party candidate in the 2018 Seoul mayoral election
Played a significant role supporting unification rival's campaign in the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] The appearance of Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, in the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election was markedly different from three years ago. Three years ago, when he ran for Seoul mayor, he failed to unify with Kim Moon-soo, the Liberty Korea Party candidate, and thus ceded the position to the ruling party. However, this time, he actively supported the unified candidate and played a significant role in the opposition’s victory. In this context, there is growing interest in whether Ahn’s proposal for a 'merger' with the People Power Party could gain momentum.

Around midnight transitioning from April 7 to 8, Ahn visited the People Power Party’s election situation room to congratulate Oh Se-hoon, the newly elected Seoul mayor. At this event, Ahn stated, "The opposition successfully unified and won the mayoral election, securing a foothold for regime change," adding, "I believe it is more important than anything else for responsible figures in the opposition, including myself, to innovate, unite, and join forces for regime change."

At a press meeting following the People’s Party Supreme Council meeting on the 8th, when asked how much the opposition’s unification contributed to the Seoul mayoral election victory, Ahn replied, "On December 20 last year, the atmosphere and environment were such that the opposition’s chances of winning were not very high, and it was a difficult situation no matter who ran. At that time, I started with the conviction that I must throw myself into the Seoul mayoral election to achieve victory for regime change," adding, "It was something that had to be done, and thanks to the empathy of many citizens and the public, the opposition was able to achieve this victory."

Three years ago, Ahn also attempted opposition unification in the Seoul mayoral election. To counter the late Park Won-soon, former Seoul mayor, he tried to unify with Kim Moon-soo, the Liberty Korea Party candidate, but both sides ran parallel and failed to unify before early voting. Even before the main vote, they attacked each other with slogans like 'Anjjibbak (If you vote for Ahn Cheol-soo, Park Won-soon wins)' and 'Kimjjibbak (If you vote for Kim Moon-soo, Park Won-soon wins),' ultimately causing the unification to collapse.

However, this election showed a different scenario. Mayor Oh and Ahn insisted on hastening unification and completed it on March 23, before the official campaign period. Although Oh was confirmed as the unified candidate, Ahn, who was his competitor, conceded defeat and expressed his intention to "help."

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People Party, is greeting Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral candidate at the time, and citizens during the "Walking with Citizens" event held on the 4th near Sebitseom on Olympic-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul./Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Ahn kept his promise. During the election period, he visited Oh’s campaign sites and asked citizens to support him. At a campaign event at COEX in Gangnam on March 28, he shouted, "Oh Se-hoon must be elected for regime change to be possible in next year’s presidential election," adding, "If you vote for number 2, you can judge this government and make the fading gray city of Seoul bright and vibrant again." On April 1, he even traveled to Busan to assist the People Power Party candidate’s campaign.

With the opposition’s victory concluding the election, there are expectations that Ahn’s 'merger' card with the People Power Party will play a major role in the reorganization of the opposition political landscape. Ahn has emphasized the need for a grand opposition unity for next year’s presidential election. On the 8th, he also discussed the merger with the People Power Party at the Supreme Council meeting. Ahn explained, "All opposition forces who oppose the Moon Jae-in administration and share the will to protect democracy and the rule of law must unite to hope for regime change," adding, "Of course, the premise of grand unity is innovation within the opposition. Without innovation, a mere physical or superficial unification cannot persuade the public, as was already confirmed in the last general election. We must not repeat the failed path."

Voices within the People Power Party also call for Ahn’s merger or entry into the party. Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min appeared on CBS Radio on March 30 and said the party should keep the door open to Ahn and others outside the party. On April 9, People Power Party lawmaker Jeong Jin-seok also expressed on CBS Radio that it would be desirable for Ahn to participate in the grand opposition unity.

However, concerns have been raised that a prolonged merger process could cause division. Jang Seong-cheol, director of the Sympathy and Debate Policy Center, analyzed, "The merger issue between the People Power Party and the People’s Party is likely to be decided by a legitimate leadership elected at the next People Power Party convention," adding, "Although Ahn has already expressed his desire for a merger, if the process is delayed, it could sow the seeds of division."