Ahn Cheol-soo and Jang Je-won on Lee Jun-seok's 'Soy Sauce' Remark: "We Don't Understand What He Means"

After Pro-Chin Yoon Faction Forum, Unanimous Criticism
Ahn Cheol-soo "Must Be Anxious"

Former Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party Kim Jong-in, and lawmakers Jang Je-won and Ahn Cheol-soo are attending the 'Korea Future Innovation Forum' held at the National Assembly on the 27th, participating in the national ceremony. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] Ahn Cheol-soo and Jang Je-won, members of the People Power Party (PPP) who have been rumored to be forming an alliance, collectively rebutted Lee Jun-seok, the party leader, regarding his use of the term “Ganjang” (a portmanteau combining the first syllables of Ahn and Jang’s names) by saying, “It’s a Korean word, but I don’t know what it means.”

On the 27th, after attending the 'Korea Future Innovation Forum' led by Jang Je-won, Ahn met with reporters. When asked consecutively whether he had a stance on Lee’s remark targeting Ahn as “a bowl of ganjang” and about Lee’s use of the term “ganjang,” Ahn said he did not understand the intention behind the comment but smiled and said, “He must be anxious.” Although he did not specify the subject, it was interpreted as a sarcastic remark aimed at Lee.

Jang Je-won also dismissed rumors of conflict with Lee on the same day by saying, “Stop provoking conflicts repeatedly,” but avoided a direct response to Lee’s “a bowl of ganjang” comment by saying, “I don’t know what that means.”

The similar nature of Ahn and Jang’s remarks drew attention as it suggested a conflict dynamic with Lee. Recently, Ahn has been expanding his base within the party through Yoon loyalists, and Jang has been relying on Ahn’s popularity, raising the possibility of an alliance. At the event, the two lawmakers sat side by side in the front row next to Chairman Kim, attracting attention.

However, both lawmakers said that the recent internal party conflicts need resolution. Jang said, “If we restrain ourselves and hold back our words, we can solve this with the collective intelligence of the lawmakers. The ruling party must unite with seriousness and weight. Political parties have conflicts, and resolving them well is political skill and what politicians must do.”

Ahn also commented on the People Power Party Innovation Committee launched by Lee, saying, “Former Chairman Kim Jong-in defined party innovation as properly adapting to the changes in the people, accurately understanding them, establishing policies accordingly, and putting them into action and practice.” He added, “Once the Innovation Committee is launched, we should focus on that. We should concentrate on creating survival strategies for Korea, not on power games, which are truly pointless.”

At the forum, former People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in gave a lecture. Kim said about the Korean political landscape, “Political parties have shown little difference before and after democratization. If parties do not respond after confirming voters’ intentions in elections, they have no future.” He continued, “Because the People Power Party is rooted as the president’s party, its members only look to the president. As a result, it cannot develop politically in a significant way.”

Kim also pointed out, “Unlike in the past, numerous specific interest groups have emerged. It is necessary to consider how to coordinate and reflect these interest groups’ concerns in policies to achieve harmony. The role of political parties is to handle this. Political parties must innovate.”

About 50 People Power Party lawmakers attended the event. Jeong, classified as pro-Yoon, said in his opening remarks, “The crushing defeat in the general election two years ago was unprecedented. In a situation where we could not dream of the future, we invited former Chairman Kim. The current People Power Party is the party that Kim is shaping.” He added, “He told me this is a ‘moment of the stars’ and told me to convey that to President Yoon Seok-youl.”