Ahn-Moon rivalry kicks in
Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo
By Chung Min-uck
Reps. Ahn Cheol-soo and Moon Jae-in are vying to gain an upper hand in the realignment of the liberal opposition bloc.
Ahn, a new independent lawmaker, last week said he will form a new political camp by fielding candidates of his choice in by-elections in October. This runs counter to general expectations that he would form an alliance with the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) against the ruling Saenuri Party.
Moon of the DP, who maintained a low profile after being defeated in last year’s presidential election, has lately been voicing his views outspokenly.
Meeting with experts on Thursday, he criticized the DP’s current move to seek alliance with Ahn. He instead urged to reform the party in a way that can “increase citizens’ participation in politics.”
The DP didn’t field a candidate in Ahn’s April by-election in a gesture to keep the alliance going.
The two political heavyweights ran as a partnership during last year’s presidential election.
Ahn bowed out of the three-way race allowing the DP’s Moon to run as the sole liberal candidate against Park Geun-hye, then the candidate of the ruling party.
Ahn on Friday visited Busan’s Sasang district, where Moon holds his parliamentary seat, to meet with his own supporters there.
He also dropped by Bongha Village where the grave of late former President Roh Moon-hyun is located. Moon was a close confidant of Roh and served as presidential chief of staff during the late president’s term.
Experts say Ahn’s move is seen as an attempt to start-up a confrontational approach to the DP.
“The DP is not in a condition to contain Ahn,” said Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myungji University in Seoul. “Ahn seeks to gain political clout by visiting the DP’s home turf of Honam and Moon’s constituency.”
Ahn also plans to visit Honam, or Jeolla Province, to participate in a state event taking place to commemorate the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Movement.
The 51-year-old lawmaker, a medical doctor better known for distributing anti-virus computer software for free, was a formidable candidate in December's presidential race until he withdrew.
After months in the U.S., he returned and successfully ran for a legislative seat in the constituency of Nowon in northern Seoul in the April 24 by-election.
Ahn’s political foray has agitated the DP, who are unsure whether to embrace him in hope of winning over his supporters, or keep him at a distance.