Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at the finance desk of The Korea Times, focuses primarily on economic policy and government agencies, mainly covering the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the National Tax Service and the Korea Customs Service. She previously covered financial authorities, including the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service, and earlier worked on the political, city and business desks, reporting on a wide range of issues.
With name, Ahn's party shaping up
By Jun Ji-hye
Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo
By Jun Ji-hye
Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo is putting the final touches on its preparations for the June 4 local elections with the former software billionaire naming his new political party the “New Political Vision Party,” Sunday.
Ahn and 320 supporters are expected to approve the name at a ceremony at the Kim Koo Museum and Library, today. The official party launch is scheduled for March.
The museum is named after a leading independence fighter against Japan’s colonial occupation.
“We chose the name as it clearly contains the meaning of new politics, which will embrace rational conservatives and reflective progressives,” said a preparatory committee in a statement.
The English translation of the party’s name would be “New Party Coalition” because, according to some political analysts, Ahn wants to garner support from a broader basis.
As part of an effort to draw public interest, the preparatory committee invited suggestions from the public and received more than 5,000 from Feb. 7 to 14.
At the meeting today, Ahn’s supporters plan to establish a central steering committee, which will be the top body in making decisions before the launch of the party. Ahn, who entered the National Assembly in the April by-elections, will be named a chairman of the committee.
The former independent presidential candidate and his aides plan to increase the number of party members nationwide ahead of the local polls.
The former doctor and business man has stressed that he will field candidates in all 17 mayoral and gubernatorial elections in June.
The committee has already set up six sub-regional bodies including ones in Gyeonggi and North Jeolla provinces, and Incheon.
“Ahn and five co-chairmen of the preparatory committee, including former environment minister Yoon Yeo-joon, will carry out membership boosting activities in earnest,” said an official.
The moves of Ahn and his supporters are expected to intensify competition with existing parties, which are already in campaign mode for the local elections.
The main opposition Democratic Party, which shares the support base with Ahn, is already trying to downplay his measures to promote new politics.
The two sides are also in a competition to recruit members, as seen by their recent attempts to bring independent lawmaker Park Joo-sun into their camps.