The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sat, May 21, 2022 | 09:04
Politics
Ahn Cheol-soo fires shot at Yoon Suk-yeol
Posted : 2022-01-25 16:39
Updated : 2022-01-25 17:51
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down

By Kang Seung-woo

Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the minor opposition People's Party, denounced Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), Tuesday, calling him an unprepared candidate who has been benefiting from the Moon Jae-in administration's incompetence in state affairs.
Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the minor opposition People's Party, speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the minor opposition People's Party, speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

The former software tycoon also said it was premature to say whether the approval ratings will stay unchanged until election day, adding that the real trend could begin after the Lunar New Year long weekend.

"When it comes to how voters cast their votes in the election, it is important that they consider whether a candidate can surely deliver on their support for a change of government," Ahn said during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul.

"An unprepared change of government could lead the nation to experience the same failures of previous unsuccessful administrations."

Ahn added, "A self-righteous and inexperienced candidate cannot hold out against a parliamentary majority of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK)."

Although Ahn, a former two-term lawmaker, did not specify whom he was referring to, he was largely believed to have been taking a shot at Yoon, a career prosecutor who has risen to become the PPP candidate after he impressed the public with his defiance of the DPK and the Moon administration, while he was the prosecutor-general.

While Yoon was caught up in party infighting earlier this month, Ahn saw his approval ratings reach double digits in many public surveys, some of which found that he was a better fit as a unified opposition candidate than Yoon, as he was projected to have the best chances at defeating Lee Jae-myung, the DPK candidate.

However, with Yoon regrouping his election committee, Ahn's approval ratings have been stagnant in the mid-10 percent range.

According to the Realmeter survey commissioned by OhMyNews and conducted on 3,046 adults from Jan. 16 to 21, Ahn lost 2.9 percentage points to post 10 percent, marking his first decline in six weeks. The poll also found that Yoon led Lee by 5.2 percentage points, at 42 percent to 36.8 percent. The margin of error for the poll is plus and minus 3.1 percentage points with a 95 percent confidence level.

Ahn, who finished third in the 2017 presidential election after gaining a 21.4 percent support rate, did not place much significance on the current poll results.

"I am working hard to meet voters and show properly who I am. Voters know exactly who I am, so it is not the right time to evaluate whether the approval rating is on an upward trend or stalled," Ahn said.

"If you wait another for one week or two, you will probably be able to analyze the overall trend after the Lunar New Year. Until the Lunar New Year holiday, I will diligently explain to voters my thoughts and what kind of person I am."

With Ahn's emergence, there have been talks about fielding a unified candidate for the opposition bloc to increase the chances of a convincing victory.

However, Ahn, who has yielded his candidacy in several past elections, including the 2012 presidential race, flatly dismissed the idea.

In his radio interview ahead of the press conference, Ahn said he was not considering a merger with Yoon at all.

"Should I represent the opposition bloc in the presidential election, I would be able to defeat the DPK candidate easily, as supporters of the ruling party would cast their ballots for me," Ahn said.

In comparison with Yoon, Ahn said he has never been caught up in scandals, an indirect criticism of allegations surrounding Yoon's wife, who is under fire for allegedly falsifying or embellishing her credentials on resumes she sent to two local universities in 2007 and 2013 to apply for teaching positions.


Emailksw@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
  • Pro-, anti-Biden demonstrations to be held in front of Hyatt hotel
  • S-Oil CEO apologizes for deadly refinery explosion in Ulsan
  • Biden arrives in South Korea for first summit with Yoon
  • Samsung, LG expand into appliances with pet care features
  • South Korea-Japan relations in the shadow of Ukraine
  • Gov't extends mandatory quarantine for COVID-19 patients for 4 more weeks
  • Baseball, dogs: What Yoon, Biden have in common
  • Yoon, Biden to discuss Korea-US tech alliance in nuclear energy
  • South Korea's new COVID-19 cases drop for 3rd day
  • Summit could pave way for currency swap: analysts
  • Kim Sae-ron apologizes for her alleged DUI incident Kim Sae-ron apologizes for her alleged DUI incident
  • Reality shows raise concerns by zooming in on private lives of people Reality shows raise concerns by zooming in on private lives of people
  • TvN drama 'Rose Mansion' criticized for animal abuse scene TvN drama 'Rose Mansion' criticized for animal abuse scene
  • Former GFriend member Yerin makes solo debut with 'Aria' Former GFriend member Yerin makes solo debut with 'Aria'
  • 'The Roundup' off to record-setting start at box office 'The Roundup' off to record-setting start at box office
DARKROOM
  • People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic

    People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic

  • 2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

    2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

  • Worsening drought puts millions at risk

    Worsening drought puts millions at risk

  • Our children deserve the best

    Our children deserve the best

  • End of mask mandates

    End of mask mandates

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group