Ahn Cheolsoo on Unification Conflict: "It Would Have Been Better to Decide by Rock-Paper-Scissors"

Ahn Cheolsoo: "Devastated by the Way the Party Is Operating"
"Unification Methods and Procedures Must Be Considered Strategically"

Ahn Cheolsoo, a lawmaker who participated in the People Power Party presidential primary, criticized the party, saying, "If you were going to rush the unification like roasting beans over a lightning fire, then why on earth did you hold the primary?" On May 7, through social media, Ahn directly expressed his frustration, stating, "Looking at how the party is operating right now, I feel devastated." This is interpreted as criticism of the ongoing controversy both inside and outside the People Power Party regarding the unification between presidential candidate Kim Moonsu and independent preliminary candidate Han Deoksoo.

Ahn Cheolsoo, a lawmaker who participated in the People Power Party presidential primary, criticized the party, saying, "If you were going to rush the unification like roasting beans over a lightning fire, then why on earth did you hold the primary?" Photo by Yoon Dongjoo

In particular, Ahn remarked, "It would have been better to simply decide our party's candidate with rock-paper-scissors from the start," and added, "If Han Deoksoo was already the 'designated' candidate, what were the other candidates who ran in our party's primary? Were we just there for show?" He continued, "I fully agree that unification is necessary to stop Lee Jaemyung (the Democratic Party presidential candidate)," but also expressed concern, saying, "If things proceed in this manner, the presidential election will be over before it even begins." He further emphasized, "To maximize the effect of unification aimed at stopping Lee Jaemyung, the candidate must take the lead in strategically considering the timing, method, and procedures," and urged, "Above all, the party leadership must take full responsibility for this situation and clarify their stance."

Previously, on May 6, Ahn also criticized the party leadership on social media, saying, "If the intention was to easily concede our party's presidential candidate position, there was no reason to hold a primary in the first place," and, "If that was the plan, they should have just nominated a single candidate from the beginning." He criticized the party leadership for pressuring candidate Kim to quickly unify with candidate Han.

Not only Assemblyman Ahn, but also former Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo, who decided to go to the United States after leaving the People Power Party following his elimination from the presidential primary, joined the criticism on the 7th, claiming that there had already been a 'Yongsan and party leadership plot' aimed at candidate unification during the primary process. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Not only Ahn, but also former Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo, who decided to leave the People Power Party and go to the United States after being eliminated from the presidential primary, joined the criticism on May 7. He claimed that there had already been a "Yongsan and party leadership plot" aimed at candidate unification during the primary process. On that day, Hong wrote on social media, "I feel that I must reveal what I experienced during the (People Power Party presidential candidate) primary before I leave." He continued, "When Yongsan and the party leadership suddenly promoted Han Deoksoo and attempted to turn the impeachment presidential election into a vote of confidence for Yoon Sukyeol, I doubted whether they would really go through with something so obviously doomed to defeat."

Meanwhile, candidate Kim, who publicly called on the party leadership to "stop interfering in unification and immediately cease all related activities," has made it clear that he will meet with candidate Han alone at 6 p.m. that day to directly negotiate unification. He emphasized, "The unification will be led entirely by the presidential candidate."