"A Person Who Has Proven Competence in Various Fields"
"Yoon Is Said to Be Deeply Contemplating Ways to Restore the Party and Rebuild Conservatism"
Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, expressed confidence that he can win in the 'top 4 competition' of the primary election, describing himself as "a person who has produced results that benefit the people in all fields."
On the 17th, Ahn appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' and referred to the scope of the 'anti-Lee Jae-myung big tent' coalition as "everyone who believes Lee Jae-myung should not become president." He explained, "According to polls, about 50% support regime change, but Lee's approval rating is stuck at 35%. If we can persuade the 15% of moderate voters in between with our competence and morality, we can win."
When asked whether the non-Lee faction of the Democratic Party of Korea would join the big tent, he replied, "I will gather as many people as possible who believe Lee Jae-myung should not become president and definitely win the election." He added, "I can't say anything is certain in elections, but I am confident that I will definitely make it to the top 4."
Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, who finished a luncheon meeting with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, is coming out of the mayor's office at Seoul City Hall on the 16th and answering questions from the press. Photo by Yonhap News
Ahn continued his sharp criticism of Lee Jae-myung, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.
He said, "Morally, (Lee) cannot compare to me. Because no matter how hard I try, I am not confident in having four criminal records and facing five trials."
Regarding his strengths, he said, "I have proven competence in various fields. I am a doctor, scientist, entrepreneur, manager, professor, and politician, aren't I?" He added, "I am a person who has produced results that benefit the people in all fields." He also said, "This is no longer an era that requires lawyers who deal with the past. It is the era of managers and scientists dealing with the future, and I am someone who has properly done both."
When asked how he would position his relationship with former President Yoon Seok-youl, he conveyed that Yoon is deeply contemplating ways to restore the party and rebuild conservatism.
He said, "I heard that former President Yoon is thinking about how to restore the party and rebuild conservatism, and that he will make an appropriate decision." When asked if Yoon might leave the party to avoid burdening it, he said, "I don't know about that, but he is thinking the most about how to help our party."
Ahn mentioned Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, whom he met the day before, saying, "We have a strong connection. We cooperated during the Seoul mayoral by-election and won, and riding that momentum, we achieved regime change for the first time in five years in constitutional history." He added, "We also share the commonality of being candidates with strong appeal to moderate voters." He continued, "We agreed on the need to place more emphasis on caring for socially vulnerable groups."
Meanwhile, regarding the proposal for Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duck-soo to run for office, Ahn said, "He should not run," pointing out, "Isn't the domestic livelihood economy in dire straits? International diplomacy is also a matter of every man for himself, and there are tariff issues with the United States." He emphasized, "If tariffs are reduced by even 1% a day, that money is enormous. Pouring all efforts into solving these problems is the true way to serve the country."
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