An, Decides Not to Participate
'Silver Cross' Sense of Crisis Growing
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The 'Itaewon meeting' proposed by Cheon Haram, a candidate running for the People Power Party's March 8 leadership election, to candidate Ahn Cheol-soo has become a non-event due to Ahn's refusal.
Ahn's camp expressed sympathy for the intention behind Cheon's proposal but ultimately decided not to participate.
Yoon Young-hee, spokesperson for Ahn's campaign, said in a statement on the 22nd, "It is obviously forced for only certain candidates to hold an event together during the leadership election," and criticized, "Cheon should first show that he can stand alone." Yoon also pointed out, "I am curious about the ability and vision of Cheon, who is righteous and fresh, working in difficult regions, to present alternatives."
After finishing a joint speech meeting in the Daejeon area the day before, Cheon asked Ahn to join in revitalizing the Itaewon commercial district. The main content was to go to Itaewon together, meet merchants, and cooperate in promoting consumption. On the same day, Cheon repeatedly encouraged participation on his Facebook, saying, "If candidate Ahn tells me his schedule, I will do whatever it takes to match it."
However, with Ahn ultimately deciding not to attend, cooperation between the two has become practically difficult. This is a strategic move to differentiate from the 'Lee Jun-seok faction' while absorbing pro-Yoon faction votes, and the increasingly fierce competition between Ahn and Cheon for second place is also relevant.
Cheon's camp confidently claims second place in the leadership election by bringing up the 'silver cross.' Recent polling trends also reflect this.
According to a survey conducted by R&Search, a professional polling agency, commissioned by NewsPim from the 19th to 20th among 425 nationwide People Power Party supporters aged 18 and over, using 100% automated wireless response method (response rate 2.5%, margin of error 95%, confidence level ±4.8%), candidate Kim ranked first with 44.6%, up 7.6 percentage points from the previous week. Candidate Ahn was second but dropped 7.1 percentage points to 24.9%. Candidate Hwang rose from 7.1% to 12.4%, and Cheon increased from 5.9% to 11.7%. The proportion of other candidates and 'don't know' was 6.5%.
Attention is focused on whether this non-participation declaration will help secure pro-Yoon faction votes. Candidate Cho Su-jin, running for Supreme Council member, said on CBS Radio that day, "Candidate Ahn has been a spotlighted presidential candidate in politics for 10 years and is currently regarded as a presidential candidate, an asset of our People Power Party," adding, "If candidate Ahn draws a clear and firm line on this, his future will be much brighter."
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