"Single Candidate Call Sparked by Canned Beer, Conflict Resolved by Chimaek"...Did Yoon's Criticized 'Drinking Politics' Shine?

Yoon and Ahn's Opposition Unification Talks Include 'Convenience Store Canned Beer'
Earlier, Yoon Seok-yeol's 'Drinking Politics' Analyzed... "Alcohol as a Medium to Show 'Human Side'"
Conflict Resolved with Lee Jun-seok in 'Chimaek Meeting' and 'Ulsan Meeting' Also Accompanied by Alcohol
Experts: "Unification Likely Favorable to Yoon... Must Guard Against Negative Image from Drinking"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, are moving together after concluding a joint press conference on unification and merger held at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 3rd. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] With the presidential election just five days away, the dramatic unification of the opposition parties is being regarded as the 'biggest variable in the presidential race.' It has been reported that convenience store canned beer was present at the unification negotiation table, which was on the brink of collapse, leading some to analyze that Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, has consistently used alcohol as a political breakthrough, a theory that has proven true once again.

Yoon's reputation as a lover of alcohol is well known. At the end of last year, many analyses suggested that Yoon had overcome political crises through drinking gatherings. It is said that he displayed a human side by having candid conversations with opponents over drinks.

However, there has also been considerable criticism that Yoon's so-called 'drinking politics' is inappropriate. In particular, controversy arose when Yoon and his close aide, Representative Kwon Seong-dong, held a drinking session with journalists at a restaurant in Gangneung late last year, raising suspicions of violations of quarantine rules and election laws. As the controversy prolonged, an interview with a close aide stating that "Yoon declared abstinence from alcohol at the beginning of the year" was reported in the media.

Alcohol was also present at the meeting that reconciled the conflict with Representative Lee Jun-seok. On July 25 last year, when tensions were high before Yoon joined the party, the two met at the entrance of Konkuk University in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, for a 'chimaek (chicken and beer) meeting,' where they confirmed a strong consensus for 'opposition coalition' aimed at regime change. Another notable example was the 'Ulsan meeting' on December 3 last year, which ended the conflict over the formation of the election committee. It is reported that Yoon and Lee shared Eonyang Bulgogi and beer during the meeting.

Alcohol was also present at the unification negotiation table that was suddenly announced on the 3rd. After the presidential candidate TV debate the previous day, Yoon and former People's Party presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo met around midnight to discuss unification. Some reports said that convenience store canned beer helped ease the awkward atmosphere between the two.

Until now, the two had been at odds over unification. On the 20th, Ahn held an emergency press conference at the National Assembly, declaring the failure of opposition unification, saying, "I will end the meaningless process and time." He blamed the People Power Party for the breakdown of negotiations, stating, "Since the unification proposal on the 13th, the main opposition party has clearly shown that it has neither the will nor sincerity for unification through a week of no response and spreading a series of fake news."

The conflict intensified especially as People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok continuously raised the tone of his remarks targeting Ahn. After Ahn declared the failure of unification, on the 22nd, Lee shared an article on his Facebook titled "Ahn Cheol-soo fled because he was scared of unification... If Yoon gives up, I will bring regime change," and left a mocking comment saying, "Just type 'ㄹㅇㅋㅋ' (real lol) in the comments."

The two also clashed over the 'legacy of the deceased.' When Ahn said at the funeral of the late Son Pyeong-oh, a regional election committee member who died in a People's Party campaign vehicle accident on the 18th of last month, "We will uphold Comrade Son's will by doing our best regardless of any storm," Lee appeared on KBS's 'Sunday Diagnosis Live' on the 20th and sarcastically said, "The deceased suddenly passed away unexpectedly, but where do you confirm the deceased's will? Do the drivers of the People's Party campaign vehicles and buses write wills before entering?"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate (left), and Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate, are preparing for a debate at the 2nd political field broadcast debate for the 20th presidential election, hosted by the National Election Commission, held on the 25th of last month at the SBS studio in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In this situation, the dramatic unification between Yoon and Ahn is attracting political attention as the 'biggest turning point in the presidential race.' With the two leading candidates forming a neck-and-neck race, if Yoon absorbs Ahn's support rate, which was around 10%, Yoon's victory can be predicted.

In a poll conducted just before the ban on publishing opinion polls, Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, and Yoon were in a close race. According to a survey by Gallup Korea conducted nationwide from May 28 to June 2 among 1,002 adults aged 18 and over, Yoon's support rate rose 2 percentage points from the previous week to 39%, while Lee maintained 38%. In this survey, Ahn showed a support rate of 12%. For detailed information, refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.

Experts believe that the opposition unification will work to Yoon's advantage. Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon said, "The People Power Party likely judged that unification would help them gain a favorable position," adding, "There is a clear reason why they unified despite the risk of backlash." Regarding Ahn, he speculated, "Through unification, he may have secured a favorable position related to the next presidential election."

However, regarding Yoon's so-called 'drinking politics,' he expressed concern that "due to previous noise related to alcohol, a negative image may be imprinted on voters."