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'Outdated' Ahn Cheol-soo declaring return to politics faces limited impact

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Seen above is former People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo's Facebook page. Ahn said Thursday in the post that he will return to South Korea's political arena. / Courtesy of Ahn Cheol-soo's Facebook page
Seen above is former People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo's Facebook page. Ahn said Thursday in the post that he will return to South Korea's political arena. / Courtesy of Ahn Cheol-soo's Facebook page

By Jhoo Dong-chan

Former People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo will return to South Korea's political arena, according to his Facebook post, Thursday. Political analysts and incumbent lawmakers, however, downplayed Ahn's return, claiming his influence is likely to be limited.

Ahn, who is staying at Stanford University as a visiting scholar in California, halted his political activities shortly after his defeat in the Seoul mayoral race in June 2018. He then left South Korea to study abroad.

"I spent about one year abroad to look back on my six-year political career. And I would like to give a sincere apology for failing to live up to the expectations of my supporters," Ahn said in his Facebook post.

"My original intention contributing to Korea's future remains undeterred. South Korea is unfortunately going backward at the moment. Korean politics are also deteriorating even worse than the time I was first called upon eight years ago. Our future generation is being, and will be, squeezed out under the current political landscape. Now, I am heading back to the people and taking a step forward for the future."

The former presidential candidate's return is expected to bring about a political upheaval, especially with the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party (BMP) on the verge of splitting. His return would also trigger a possible political reform in centrist as well as conservative factions here before the general election slated for April this year.

"His ability to seize an opportunity is the best," Rep. Park Jie-won of minor opposition Party for Democracy and Peace (PDP) said sarcastically.

"Main opposition Liberty Korea Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn's leadership is now under question over whether conservative parties will join forces to win the April general election. Perhaps Ahn believes it's the right time for him to step in. Unfortunately, it's impossible for conservative parties to establish a so-called grand conservative integration to challenge the liberal Moon Jae-in government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea with or without Ahn's return."

Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the BMP welcomed Ahn's return.

"Ahn's ambition for so-called new politics is still valid. I hope he will do his part for the country," Rep. Ha said.

"Regardless of his return, I and my fellow lawmakers will break away from the BMP to create a new conservative party. It's still too early to speak about a possible partnership with Ahn."

Ahn left Korea for Germany in September 2018 after he was defeated in the June 13 Seoul mayoral race that year. After spending one year in Germany, he left Germany for California to study at Stanford University as a visiting scholar in October 2019.

His party, the People's Party, merged with the center-right Bareun Party in 2018, creating the Bareunmirae Party (BMP) shortly before the election. The BMP has been largely split since Ahn left after the mayoral election ― members of the now-defunct Bareun Party led by Yoo, and those from the People's Party formerly led by Ahn.

After several members of the Party for Democracy and Peace decided to quit and work independently in August, critics anticipated that minor parties may merge to create a bigger political force to prepare for the upcoming elections in April.




Jhoo Dong-chan jhoo@koreatimes.co.kr


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