Ahn Cheol-soo's Side "Good Intentions, Under Review"
Kim Ki-hyun Leads in Multi-Candidate Race
Runoff Vote Seen as Non-Yoon Consolidation Card
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The alliance between Ahn Cheol-soo and Chun Ha-ram, candidates for the People Power Party's March 8 leadership election, is becoming visible. Chun officially proposed that Ahn join his plan to revitalize the Itaewon commercial district on the 23rd, and Ahn's side is reportedly considering this positively. This is interpreted as a strategy anticipating a runoff election if leading candidate Kim Ki-hyun fails to secure a majority in the first round.
Kim Young-woo, head of Ahn Cheol-soo's campaign committee, said in a phone interview on the 22nd, "We are considering it positively," adding, "I wasn't familiar with the Itaewon (commercial district revitalization) gift certificates, but isn't the purpose very good?" Kim explained that although no specific schedule has been set yet, there is a strong possibility of discussing it further with Chun's side.
After the third joint speech meeting for Daejeon, Sejong, Chungbuk, and Chungnam regions held at Daejeon University Mac Center the previous day, Chun told reporters that he plans to visit Itaewon together with Ahn. Chun said, "I made a proposal to candidate Ahn Cheol-soo," and added, "The Cheon-A-Yong-In (Chun Ha-ram, Heo Eun-ah, Kim Yong-tae, Lee Gi-in) team purchased gift certificates related to the recovery of the Itaewon commercial district, and within this week, we plan to visit Itaewon to use the gift certificates and hold a press conference to discuss various concerns about revitalizing the Itaewon commercial district." Chun continued, "I suggested it would be good if Ahn joined, and I said I bought about 100,000 won worth, and considering Ahn's assets, he should buy about 1,000,000 won worth, to which he chuckled."
Chun also emphasized again on Facebook that "If candidate Ahn tells me his schedule, I will do whatever it takes to match it," adding, "Although the ruling party's leadership election is proceeding very chaotically, we must take care of the people's lives even a little."
Chun's side is scheduled to visit Itaewon after a joint speech meeting in the Gangwon region on the 23rd, and it is reported that Ahn plans to join at that time. The Cheon-A-Yong-In team intends to meet merchants directly to offer consolation. A representative from Chun's side said, "Is there any reason for someone claiming to be a metropolitan area candidate not to participate in revitalizing the Itaewon commercial district?" The Itaewon commercial district revitalization gift certificates purchased by Chun are local gift certificates issued by Yongsan-gu, Seoul, with a scale of 10 billion won to revive the surrounding commercial district that has been depressed since the Itaewon tragedy, and can only be used in the Itaewon area.
Chun reaching out to Ahn first is interpreted as being mindful of the runoff election. Although candidate Kim has recently widened the gap with Ahn in polls, the majority threshold to win without a runoff election has not yet been reached.
According to a survey conducted by R&Search, a polling specialist agency, commissioned by NewsPim from the 19th to 20th among 425 People Power Party supporters nationwide aged 18 and over, using 100% automated wireless response (response rate 2.5%, sampling error 95%, confidence level ±4.8%), Kim ranked first with 44.6%, up 7.6 percentage points from the previous week. Ahn dropped 7.1 percentage points to 24.9%. Hwang rose from 7.1% to 12.4%, and Chun increased from 5.9% to 11.7%. The proportion of other candidates and "don't know" was 6.5%.
With Chun's emergence, the clarity between pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) and reform images has weakened, causing Ahn to show a slight decline in multi-candidate contests. However, if they proceed with this schedule together, it is analyzed that Ahn has a high possibility of absorbing Chun's votes, who is supported by non-Yoon (anti-Yoon Seok-yeol) party members, in the runoff election.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
