"'Party Name Change' Ahn Cheol-soo, Ha Tae-kyung: 'Now "The Greater People's Party"? Politics Should Be Common Sense'"

Ha Tae-kyung, chairman of the Busan Future Innovation Committee and head of the Busan branch of the People Power Party, is announcing the activity plan of the Busan Future Innovation Committee at Busan City Hall on the morning of the 9th of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party who declared his candidacy for the presidential election, sharply criticized Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People Party, who is advocating for changing the name of the People Power Party, saying, "To catch a tiger, you must have the courage to jump into the tiger's den to be a leader."

On the 17th, Ha posted on his Facebook, "Discussions on the merger between the People Power Party and the People Party are facing difficulties due to Ahn Cheol-soo's sudden demand to change the party name," he said.

He said, "During the last Seoul mayoral election, Ahn Cheol-soo said, 'Let's create a bigger People Power Party,'" and criticized, "But now, is he trying to create a bigger People Party?"

This refers to Ahn Cheol-soo's remarks at the People Party's Supreme Council meeting on March 15, where he said, "Choosing Ahn Cheol-soo is the way to create a bigger People Power Party and to place the People Power Party at the center of regime change."

Photo by Ha Tae-kyung, captured from the Facebook page of a member of the People Power Party

Ha continued, "In short, it's absurd," and said, "Ahn Cheol-soo should engage in politics that makes sense. Why change the name of the party that became number one in approval ratings after a year of effort just before the presidential election? What benefit is there?"

He also pointed out, "Ahn Cheol-soo has repeatedly narrowed his political position by changing his words according to interests, repeating 20th-century politics."

He added, "Who can trust a politician whose words before the election differ from those after the election? Great way with no gate. Do you remember?"

This seems to refer to the 'Great Way with No Gate' spirit emphasized by Ahn in the past. On February 23, Ahn visited the Kim Young-sam Library and said, "I also remember eating noodles at the Blue House when I was young," honoring former President Kim Young-sam's 'Great Way with No Gate (大道無門, meaning there is nothing rough in the great path that people should follow) spirit.'

On that day, Ahn also wrote in the guestbook, "Inheriting the spirit of the Great Way with No Gate and the spirit of unity and harmony left as a will, we will rebuild the fallen democracy."

Finally, Ha urged, "Ahn Cheol-soo should keep his public promise to create 'a bigger number 2, a bigger People Power Party' without attaching new conditions."

Earlier, on the 16th, Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, revealed differences in views with Ahn Cheol-soo regarding the 'party name change' during a visit to the People Party leader's office at the National Assembly for a congratulatory greeting.