Acceleration of 'Third Zone' Alliance to Overcome Two-Party System... Possible Meeting Between Shim and Ahn This Month

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Geum Bo-ryeong] Sim Sang-jung, the Justice Party presidential candidate, is expected to meet Ahn Cheol-soo, the People’s Party presidential candidate, as early as the 29th to discuss cooperation plans for the presidential election. Sim also plans to meet Kim Dong-yeon, the preparatory committee chairman for the new party tentatively named Saerounmulgyeol. The alliance among the three third-zone candidates?Sim Sang-jung, Ahn Cheol-soo, and Kim Dong-yeon?to overcome the two-party system is gaining momentum.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the morning of the 26th, Sim appeared on YTN Radio and said that she and Ahn "will meet soon. The results (such as the meeting schedule) will come out today." A key official from Sim’s camp told this outlet in a phone interview, "This afternoon (the 26th), the working-level staff from both sides will meet and continue the second day of practical negotiations," adding, "They will handle the meeting schedule and the agenda for discussion between the two candidates." It is expected that the meeting between the two candidates will most likely take place on the 29th.

Following Ahn, Sim also plans to meet Kim, who proposed the ‘joint declaration to end two-party politics,’ as soon as possible, holding sequential meetings.

While the triangular cooperation among the Justice Party, the People’s Party, and Saerounmulgyeol is becoming visible, it remains to be seen whether this will ultimately lead to a ‘unification of candidates.’

On the same day, Ahn wrote on Facebook that the political engineering interpretation of ‘cooperation and alliance’ is an overinterpretation, stating, "The People’s Party and the Justice Party each have different philosophies and values." At a meeting with reporters that morning, Ahn also emphasized that "(the alliance between the two parties) focuses on the double special prosecution." A source from Sim’s camp said, "The third-zone cooperation is about jointly working to end the two-party system, not about unification," adding, "At the party level, we will also engage with the Green Party and the Progressive Party to build consensus on the climate crisis."