Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Candidacy hinges on poll details
Two embark on crucial last-ditch efforts toward alliance
By Jung Min-ho
Prompted by the rapid progress in talks for unifying opposition candidacies, representatives of both sides are poised to embark on full-fledged negotiations starting from today.
Moon Jae-in, the presidential candidate of the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP), and independent Ahn Cheol-soo have to come up with a method acceptable to both in selecting a unified candidate, including the wording of questions for an opinion poll or primary-style vote.
The candidate registration deadline is Nov. 26.
Moon has given Ahn’s side the right to decide on a method of merging the candidacies, but the questions to be asked in what is likely to be an opinion poll remain foggy.
Poll numbers have differed considerably depending on the wording of the questions, and this is likely to be the hottest issue during negotiations over the next few days.
According to Gallup Korea’s latest survey Nov. 14, Moon was ahead of Ahn with 46 percent to 34 percent when the question asked was, “Who is the most suitable unified candidate?” However, in a two-way contest against Park Geun-hye, the presidential candidate of the ruling Saenuri Party, Moon was tied with her at 46 percent.
The decision to resume talks was made following the mass resignation of the top leadership of the DUP, in response to Ahn’s request for an “overhaul within the party.” The most prominent leader to have resigned was Chairman Lee Hae-chan among others on the Supreme Council.
Ahn had repeatedly called for Lee’s resignation, describing him as the “kingpin” of the so-called pro-Roh Moo-hyun faction composed of followers of the late former president.
He complained that the pro-Roh members were attempting to carry out “a media play” by spreading rumors that Ahn would yield the candidacy to Moon.
Accusing the DUP leaders of propagating such a falsehood, Ahn threatened to call off all negotiations toward the single candidacy until the DUP mended its ways.
The resignation of the party leaders prompted Moon to call for a prompt decision from Ahn, saying “time is running out.”
“I would like to urge Ahn to come back to the table to resume talks. The time is already tight for discussing various ways of merging the candidacies,” Moon said. “I will give Ahn the right to decide the method. As soon as he decides the way, the details can be discussed.”
Ahn responded positively, vowing that he “would achieve the unified candidacy by any means possible.”
Though the two liberal candidates confirmed their desire to break the five-day stalemate, it remains to be seen whether they will be able to reach a historic agreement before the deadline for candidate registration.
Woo Sang-ho, chief public affairs official of Moon's campaign, said the party leadership is keenly interested in the unified candidacy, saying “We believed it is a necessary prerequisite to winning the election.”
“We admit that we are not perfect. But we all have the will to change,” Woo said. “We hope that Ahn and the DUP will be able to achieve political renovation through constructive competition.”