Ahn, Chun make up

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, right, and Rep. Chun Jung-bae, co-leaders of the minor opposition People’s Party, attend a party meeting, Wednesday. / Yonhap

By Yi Whan-woo

Rep. Chun Jung-bae, co-chairman of the minority opposition People’s Party, has resolved a row with the party’s founder, fellow co-chairman Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, over preparations for the April 13 general election, party officials said Wednesday.

Chun has boycotted party meetings since last week in protest of Ahn’s unilateral decision not to form an alliance with the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) for the elections, triggering speculation about a possible party breakup.

However, Chun changed his mind and decided to help with campaign strategies after a private meeting with Ahn in Seoul, Tuesday, the officials said.

Rep. Kim Han-gil also stepped down as head of the party’s election planning committee, Friday, saying Ahn’s refusal to cooperate with the MPK will backfire.

Chun and Kim then claimed that joining hands with the MPK was critical to win against the ruling Saenuri Party.

Ahn, Chun and Kim all belonged to the MPK until they left amid a factional feud.

During the meeting with Chun, Ahn underscored the unity of the party in preparation for the election, the officials said.

“I had insisted on forming an opposition alliance in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province to prevent the ruling Saenuri Party from sweeping the election,” Chun said in a statement.

“I, however, realized such an alliance will not be realistic and decided that it would be right to fulfill my responsibility and role as party co-leader. I will make all-out efforts to help our party win in the general election.”

On Monday, MPK spokesman Kim Sung-soo said that last weekend was the deadline for the People’s Party to respond to Kim Jong-in’s opposition alliance offer, which was made March 2.

“We’ve judged that it would be difficult to wait for their response any longer due to time constraints,” the spokesman said.

Despite Kim Han-gil’s standoff with Ahn, the People’s Party still picked him, Monday, as one of its 23 candidates who will run in the April 13 elections without primaries. Ahn and Chun also made the list.