By Kim Hyo-jin
Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, a former co-leader of the minor opposition People's Party, vowed a fresh start as an "ordinary Assemblyman," Thursday, after he resigned from the post over a corruption scandal involving party members.
"I will do my best for the party as an ordinary lawmaker," Ahn told reporters after a party meeting.
However, he didn't answer any questions about his possible bid for Cheong Wa Dae.
Some analysts raised speculation that the resignation is linked to his preparations for the presidential race next year.
According to Ahn's aides, Ahn will focus on devising policies for a while.
"Ahn underlined industrial and educational innovation and solutions for social disparity during the recent parliamentary speech. He would now spend time elaborating policies for such agendas," an aide said.
Meanwhile, Rep. Park Jie-won, the party's interim leader who took over a leadership role remained confident in putting the bewildered party back on track.
"Our leaders' resignation can be a turnaround for the party. We will continue bearing Ahn's legacy, ‘new politics'," Park said during a party meeting.
Expressing confidence in Ahn's presidential bid, Park said, "Ahn will soon build momentum for the presidential race as an ordinary lawmaker."
But political watchers question if Ahn could reemerge as a competent presidential candidate, overcoming the aftermath of the scandal. They also remain doubtful of the possibility that People's Party can gain traction again as a confident third party.
"People's Party was launched, solely relying on the image of one lawmaker, Ahn Cheol-soo. Without his lead, there's a limit to the extent which the party can grow as a competent party," said Hwang Tae-soon, a senior analyst at Wisdom Center.
"Worse, Park has an image of old politics, reminding people of the era under the Kim Dae-jung administration."
Hwang said, about Ahn, that a politician without an official title in the party could easily fade into the background.
"Ahn himself showed an example of this very thing happening when he stepped down from the leadership post of the main opposition party in 2014. For over a year until then he stood as then party leader Moon Jae-in's opponent, Ahn had kept a low-profile, quickly getting out of public attention," he said.
Choi Chang-ryol, a politics professor at Yongin University, agreed with Hwang, saying "Once an image is dent with a corruption scandal, it's irreversible."
"Even if he left the impression of being a responsible politician, Ahn will have to bear the image of old politics. And it will be a significant hurdle for him in his attempts to widen his influence as a presidential contender with nationwide support."
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| Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, former co-leader of the minor opposition People's Party, sits with regular party members during a meeting at the National Assembly, Thursday. / Yonhap |
"I will do my best for the party as an ordinary lawmaker," Ahn told reporters after a party meeting.
However, he didn't answer any questions about his possible bid for Cheong Wa Dae.
Some analysts raised speculation that the resignation is linked to his preparations for the presidential race next year.
According to Ahn's aides, Ahn will focus on devising policies for a while.
"Ahn underlined industrial and educational innovation and solutions for social disparity during the recent parliamentary speech. He would now spend time elaborating policies for such agendas," an aide said.
Meanwhile, Rep. Park Jie-won, the party's interim leader who took over a leadership role remained confident in putting the bewildered party back on track.
"Our leaders' resignation can be a turnaround for the party. We will continue bearing Ahn's legacy, ‘new politics'," Park said during a party meeting.
Expressing confidence in Ahn's presidential bid, Park said, "Ahn will soon build momentum for the presidential race as an ordinary lawmaker."
But political watchers question if Ahn could reemerge as a competent presidential candidate, overcoming the aftermath of the scandal. They also remain doubtful of the possibility that People's Party can gain traction again as a confident third party.
"People's Party was launched, solely relying on the image of one lawmaker, Ahn Cheol-soo. Without his lead, there's a limit to the extent which the party can grow as a competent party," said Hwang Tae-soon, a senior analyst at Wisdom Center.
"Worse, Park has an image of old politics, reminding people of the era under the Kim Dae-jung administration."
Hwang said, about Ahn, that a politician without an official title in the party could easily fade into the background.
"Ahn himself showed an example of this very thing happening when he stepped down from the leadership post of the main opposition party in 2014. For over a year until then he stood as then party leader Moon Jae-in's opponent, Ahn had kept a low-profile, quickly getting out of public attention," he said.
Choi Chang-ryol, a politics professor at Yongin University, agreed with Hwang, saying "Once an image is dent with a corruption scandal, it's irreversible."
"Even if he left the impression of being a responsible politician, Ahn will have to bear the image of old politics. And it will be a significant hurdle for him in his attempts to widen his influence as a presidential contender with nationwide support."
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