Kim Jong-in: "For Unification Talks, Ahn Cheol-soo's Support Rate Must Exceed 18%"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Former People Power Party General Election Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in predicted on the 21st that discussions on candidate unification with Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, would take place only if Ahn’s approval rating exceeds 18%.

Kim appeared on KBS Radio’s ‘Choi Kyung-young’s Top Current Affairs’ on the same day and said, "Ahn’s approval rating has been fluctuating in the low teens, and I have also seen Gallup polls showing it reaching 18% for the first time." He added, "For a proper unification debate with Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party’s presidential candidate, Ahn’s approval rating would need to rise above 18%."

He said, "If Ahn’s approval rating approaches 20%, the pressure for unification from the conservative camp due to election anxiety will intensify, and I think Yoon or Ahn will have no choice but to pursue unification under public pressure."

However, he also expressed the view that unification does not guarantee victory in the presidential election. Kim said, "Sometimes 1 plus 1 equals 2, but sometimes 1 plus 1 equals 1.5. Although it is assumed that unification will increase approval ratings numerically, it is difficult to expect that such results will necessarily come out in the election."

Kim advised, "Yoon should lead the election with the mindset that he can win whether or not unification happens." Taking the stance that victory is possible without unification would be advantageous regardless of whether unification occurs or not.