Former independent candidate Ahn Cheol-soo confirmed his support for the main opposition party presidential hopeful with 16 days remaining before voters go to the polls to pick the country's next chief executive.
At a gathering to mark the formal disbanding of his election camp in downtown Seoul, the software-entrepreneur-turned politician called on his supporters who wanted to bring about a new political change and switch in government to accept his heartfelt feelings on this matter.
"When I expressed my intent to resign the presidential candidacy on Nov. 23, I said I will hold no office and asked (people) to support the only liberal presidential candidate Moon Jae-in," he said during the press conference, making clear he still held this view and was asking his supporters to do the same.
The remarks, however, are no different from those previously made by Ahn on the ongoing election, and he again made no mention of what he will do to galvanize support for the Democratic United Party (DUP) standard bearer.
He also clarified that the reason he gave up the race was to follow through on his pledge to reach an understanding on a single candidacy, an issue believed critical if the liberal camp has a chance of winning the Dec. 19 poll. All polls before Ahn stepped down showed the ruling camp easily winning the presidency if two liberals competed for the top elected post.
The 50-year-old candidate, meanwhile, claimed the current race between Moon and the ruling Saneuri Party candidate, Park Geun-hye, is moving in the opposite direction of what people want.
He blasted all sides for not meeting public demand for new politics, by engaging in mud-slinging and factionalism that splits up people. Such actions, he claimed, fail to give hope to the people.
Ahn said based on the support shown by his supporters, he planned to do more to train himself, hinting he will continue to play a part in South Korean politics in the future.
His appearance came 10 days after he abruptly quit as a presidential contender after no headway was made on the single liberal candidate issue.
The DUP, which had expected more outright support from Ahn, said it will do its utmost to meet his wishes.
"We will bring about a change in government and repay (Ahn's support)," the party said. Rep. Woo Sang-ho, Moon's spokesman, added the DUP is grateful to the former candidate for calling on supporters to push for a change in government.
The Saenuri Party, on the other hand, said Ahn's comments were focused much more on calling for new politics, and were not necessarily a pledge of support for Moon or the DUP.
"All he did was to justify his reason for playing a role in domestic politics," a party official said.
The ruling camp had consistently downplayed the failed single candidacy talks and tried to ignore the possible impact Ahn can still exert if he opts to fully support the DUP candidate.
Polls have shown Park maintaining her lead vis-a-vis Moon, with some even showing her pulling ahead after one week of official campaigning. (Yonhap)