The debate on unification of opposition candidates between the People’s Power Yoon Seok-yeol and Ahn Cheol-soo of the People’s Party is still ongoing. Although both candidates agreed to ‘let’s unify’, they did not even show the will to start a detailed discussion process. The People’s Power is concentrating on publicly criticizing the 100% opinion poll method proposed by Candidate Ahn, and the People’s Party seems to be putting pressure on them with an ultimatum saying that ‘the deadline is running out’. On the surface, it is suggested that we unify, but on the inside, it seems that both are not in a hurry. This is because the official election campaign has just begun and there are about 20 days left until the election, and both sides don’t think it’s a bad idea to waste time.
People’s Power presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol (left) and People’s Party candidate Ahn Cheol-soo during an election campaign on the 15th. yunhap news
On the 15th, the People’s Power concentrated on a public opinion battle that criticized the 100% unification method of opinion polls proposed by Candidate Ahn on the 15th. Kim Jae-won, the top member of the committee, appeared on MBC radio and said, “I think the third-place bronze medal thinks of a way to steal the gold medal.” Party spokeswoman Lim Seung-ho also appeared on KBS radio and expressed, “Most of the candidates Yoon’s approval rating is more than five times that of Candidate Ahn.” When Candidate Ahn proposed to unify it in the same way as in the Seoul mayor by-election last year, he refuted that the approval rating was different from that at the time. Prior to the Seoul mayoral by-election, Ahn’s approval ratings surpassed Oh Se-hoon’s then-People’s Strength candidate in various opinion polls.
The People’s Party even mentioned the possibility of a ‘declaration of breakdown’, saying that Yoon should make a statement. After visiting the birthplace of former President Park Chung-hee in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, on the same day, Candidate Ahn told reporters, “As the presidential candidate proposed, you (the people’s power) must also say that the candidate will (unify) or not.” “As soon as possible, as soon as possible. I want you to make your decision.” It is for Candidate Yoon to express his position in person. Choi Jin-seok, chairman of the National People’s Party’s permanent election committee, answered on MBC radio, “If there is no answer from Yoon, at what point can candidate Ahn declare the failure of unification? Chairman Choi also said, “We do not set a deadline, but if the response to such a proposal is too long, it can be read enough to mean that he will not (candidate Yoon unify).”
There is no formal unification discussion between the People’s Power and the People’s Party. Instead, the two sides are only fighting. This is because both parties think that taking the time is not bad. The People’s Power believes that the further back the point of unification is, the more advantageous it will be. Other than the unification issue, he believes that there is no way for Ahn, the third runner-up, to attract public attention. As the presidential election draws nearer, Ahn’s approval rating will drop, and the strategy is to start a merger and acquisition based on this. It is in the same vein that Kim Kyung-jin, head of the permanent public affairs department at the People’s Power Election Headquarters, said on CBS radio on the same day, “I think that the space is open until the day before the election.”
Within the power of the people, a ‘golden ordinance’ of unification was also issued. It is reported that Kwon Young-se, head of the ship’s fleet, ordered at a recent meeting to avoid mentioning unification as much as possible. A key official from the People’s Power campaign headquarters said in a phone call, “Without unification, candidate Ahn would have disappeared from the press. If no message is sent (from the people’s power side),[Ahn’s approval rating]will be in a stagnant state,” he said.
Even as the People’s Party, it’s not bad to waste time. As the presidential election draws nearer, if both support groups gather, the role of the casting boat may increase in Ahn’s approval rating. As unification was proposed first, even if unification fails, responsibility can be escaped. It seems that there is also a judgment that the unification can continue to attract public attention.
The fact that there is still plenty of time for unification is also one of the reasons why the two sides are not in a hurry to negotiate. As a time of unification, the 1st round is the date of candidate registration (13th to 14th), the 2nd is the ballot printing date (28th), the 3rd is the early voting day (March 4-5), and the 4th is before the main voting day (March 9) is regarded as As the first period has already passed, there is plenty of time until the second period, the date of printing the ballot papers. Even if unification is desired, it is a time when there is no need to rush to achieve a dramatic effect.
