Ahn Cheol-soo Declares Withdrawal from Party Leadership Race: "Not My Calling to Privatize Power"

"I Will Focus on More Urgent Issues Than the Party Convention"
Criticism of Only 20% Reflection of Public Opinion in Party Convention Rule Revisions

Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party and a leading candidate for party leader from the Seoul metropolitan area’s 4th district, announced on the 17th that he will not run in the party leadership election.

On the same day, Ahn stated on his Facebook, "I will focus on more urgent tasks for the Republic of Korea rather than the party leadership election."

Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, is attending a party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Ahn criticized the People Power Party, which is preparing for the leadership election, as being "too complacent." Regarding the recent revision of the party leader selection criteria from 100% party members’ votes to 80% party members and 20% public opinion polls, he pointed out, "Despite the government and ruling party suffering a crushing defeat in the general election due to the public’s anger and a tsunami of regime judgment, the party only pretended to amend the party constitution and regulations to reflect public sentiment in the upcoming leadership election."

He continued, "If this leadership election is one of 'status quo' and 'well-fought loss,' it will be a path to even greater failure," adding, "If it is the ruling party’s leadership election, fierce debates on national innovation agendas and future visions such as pension reform, labor reform, education reform, and scientific and technological innovation are essential, but the direction is unclear and no proper attempts are being made."

He further stated, "The immediate political struggles, party power battles, and privatization of power are not my political calling," and added, "I will focus on the era’s tasks for the Republic of Korea, national agendas, and policy alternatives and solutions for people’s livelihood issues."