Ahn Cheolsoo Vows to Dedicate Himself to Blocking Lee Jaemyung Despite Presidential Primary Elimination

Ahn Cheolsoo Shares Reflections After Being Eliminated from Presidential Primary
Hong Junpyo, Also Eliminated, Hints at Retirement from Politics

Representative Ahn Cheolsoo of the People Power Party, after being eliminated in the second round of the presidential primary, emphasized, "No matter who becomes the final candidate, I will dedicate my efforts to blocking candidate Lee Jaemyung and achieving a change of government." After hearing the announcement of his elimination at the central party headquarters in Yeouido on the afternoon of the 29th, Ahn stated, "Even now, our country is facing a truly grave crisis. For the People Power Party to overcome this crisis, we must strive even harder," expressing his thoughts in this way.

On the 29th, at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Ahn Cheolsoo, a candidate who failed to advance in the 3rd round of the People Power Party's 21st presidential candidate primary, is expressing his thoughts. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Ahn said, "I sincerely congratulate the two candidates who advanced to the third round of the primary," and added, "Hong Junpyo, who competed alongside me, also worked very hard." He continued, "I humbly accept the choice of the people and the party members," and said, "I will deeply engrave the love and expectations you have shown me in my heart." Before the announcement, he reflected, "The second round of the primary was a valuable and meaningful moment in which we made our party even stronger by fiercely debating truly different visions," and added, "I am proud that we have demonstrated the dignity of a liberal democratic party, different from the totalitarian party 'Gudaimyeong' (where Lee Jaemyung became the presidential candidate with a 90% approval rate)." He went on to say, "Our real opponent now is Lee Jaemyung," and added, "We must fight against Lee Jaemyung-style politics, which uses the national budget to feed his own side, divides the people through factionalism, and burdens the country with debt through populism."

Ahn Cheolsoo and Hong Junpyo, candidates who were eliminated from the third round of the People Power Party's 21st presidential candidate primary, are listening to the impressions of the advancing candidates on the afternoon of the 29th at the People Power Party central office in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Earlier on the 29th, Ahn failed to make it to the final two in the second round of the primary, which reflected 50% of party member votes and 50% of public opinion polls, among four candidates including Kim Moonsu, Han Donghoon, and Hong Junpyo, along with Hong. Unlike Ahn, who pledged to dedicate himself to achieving a change of government, former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo, who was also eliminated from the primary that day, declared his retirement from politics, saying, "I will no longer be involved in politics." After the results of the second round of the presidential primary were announced in the afternoon, Hong held a press conference at his campaign office in the Daehwa Building in Yeouido, stating, "Now I will return to being an ordinary citizen, someone you can meet freely in the market or on the street, without any burden." Meanwhile, Kim Moonsu and Han Donghoon advanced to the final round of the People Power Party primary. They will participate in one debate, followed by two days of party member voting (50%) and a public opinion poll (50%). The final presidential candidate will be decided on the 3rd of next month.