No Real Substance to Opposition Unification Theory
People's Party Has Only 3 Proportional Representatives
Support Likely to Drop if Merged
Yoon Unlikely to Unite with Ahn
No Meetings or Contact Made
"Can Advise on Presidential Qualifications"
Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is holding a farewell press conference at the National Assembly on the 8th. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Former People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in criticized on the 11th the remarks made by Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, who congratulated candidate Oh Se-hoon on his election victory by calling it a "victory for the opposition," calling it "arrogant" and stating that there is no substance to the ongoing discussions between the People Power Party and the People’s Party about "opposition unification."
In an interview with Yonhap News, former Chairman Kim said, "If there is no substance, what kind of opposition is this?" and added, "Why are they talking about grand unification now?"
He emphasized, "If you lack confidence, just give up, but they keep saying 'unification, unification' day and night," and stressed, "The People Power Party should stop looking outside and focus on strengthening its internal organization to become a self-sustaining party." Former Chairman Kim, who has emphasized self-reliance, had advised on the day of his resignation on the 8th that the People Power Party should not rely on external forces or be greedy only for party leadership.
He also criticized the idea of unification between the People’s Party, which has only three proportional representatives, and the People Power Party. Former Chairman Kim said, "Isn’t it obvious that Ahn Cheol-soo is eager to merge with the People Power Party to become a presidential candidate?" He pointed out, "Didn’t he say he would give up on the presidential election when he ran for Seoul mayor? If such a person becomes president, the country will be in chaos again." He explained, "I have observed the nature of opposition parties in South Korea since the 1960s. If the People’s Party merges, they will have to divide district chairmanships, and the party will inevitably become chaotic. Then, support ratings will inevitably fall."
Former Chairman Kim described Ahn’s attitude as arrogant. He said, "He congratulated Oh Se-hoon’s election victory by calling it a 'victory for the opposition.' How can he say something so arrogant? Does he think he brought this victory? It was a victory for the opposition? It was a victory for the People Power Party. Voters voted for 'People Power Party’s Oh Se-hoon.' Ahn Cheol-soo should have congratulated the 'People Power Party’s victory.'"
When asked whether Ahn’s unification with the candidate contributed to the by-election victory, former Chairman Kim dismissed it, saying, "The unification was forced by himself. We would have won even in a three-way race."
Regarding the possibility of a meeting between former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and Ahn, he said, "Yoon Seok-youl and Ahn Cheol-soo cannot unite. They have no relationship, and Ahn arbitrarily used someone else’s name," adding, "I need to make a judgment about Yoon. I have never met him or contacted him. I can advise on what qualities a president should have, but there is no other way I can help."
On the view that there is no clear presidential candidate within the People Power Party, he responded, "Did Oh Se-hoon get elected because he was great from the start? The process of making him was not easy." He firmly stated that he would not serve as a senior advisor to the People Power Party.
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