Ahn Defends Bundang-gap... This Time, 'Ahn' Withdraws from the General Election

Building a Foundation by Increasing Contact with Locals
Regarding Kim Eun-hye's Candidacy Rumors, "No Parachute Candidates"

Ahead of the 22nd general election on April 10 next year, Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, is strongly expressing his determination to defend his constituency, Bundang-gap in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.

On the 8th, Ahn reaffirmed his previous stance of not changing his electoral district. In an interview with MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' he said, "As the election approaches, there are many 'take it or leave it' style gossip stories. It is neither courteous nor proper for someone who entered through a by-election to change their constituency again."

He also emphasized that the party must make efforts to eliminate noise related to candidate nominations. Ahn said, "The party should quickly announce the criteria for nominations and confirm nominations in certain areas in advance. For strategic regions, efforts are needed to raise the recognition of existing candidates if they are low in important areas for securing a foothold, or to find new candidates if none exist."

In an interview with YTN Radio on the 25th of last month, Ahn also expressed his determination to defend his constituency, stating, "I have a basic principle that incumbent lawmakers should not casually change their constituencies as it is disrespectful to local residents."

Regarding rumors about Kim Eun-hye, the presidential office's chief spokesperson, running in the general election, he dismissed them, saying, "Parachute candidates are not acceptable." Bundang-gap in Seongnam was previously Kim’s constituency, but it became vacant when she resigned her seat last year to run for governor of Gyeonggi Province. Ahn, who served as a member of the National Assembly for Nowon-byeong in Seoul during the 19th and 20th assemblies, was elected in Bundang-gap through a by-election in June last year, filling the vacancy left by Kim.

Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, attended the 28th Environment Day ceremony held at Seongnam City Hall Plaza on the 3rd. [Image source=Ahn's Facebook]

Recently, Ahn has been increasing his engagement with local residents by holding party membership events at locations such as Yatap Station, Seohyeon Station, and Pangyo Station in Bundang. He has also appeared at local events such as sports competitions and lectures, demonstrating his intention to run again in his current constituency.

On the 8th, Ahn visited the site of an escalator accident at Sunae Station on the Bundang Line in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Around 8:20 a.m. that day, the upward escalator at Exit 2 of Sunae Station malfunctioned and ran backward, causing injuries to 14 people.

Ahn emphasized, "I represent Bundang-gap, and the accident site is in the Eul district, but many of our residents commute through Sunae Station, and among the injured, there are local residents. We need to conduct a comprehensive inspection of subways and escalators built around the same time as the Jeongja Bridge collapse."