DP predicts win, while GNP denies Ahn effect on race


Professor Ahn Cheol-soo finally responded to the liberal bloc’s repeated calls on Sunday and announced he would campaign for candidate Park Won-soon ahead of Wednesday’s Seoul mayoral election.

The Seoul National University professor expressed his intent to support the civic activist, according to sources in Park’s camp. 

“Ahn called Park this evening and offered his hand, saying that he shall specify and confirm his decision tomorrow,” said Park’s spokesperson on Sunday.

The two met on Monday afternoon at Park’s campaign headquarters in Jongno-gu.

“I urge you to lead, as mayor, a society in which people may build up their dreams based on common sense,” said Ahn.

“I trust that the people will make a wise choice on Wednesday.”

Some claimed that Ahn’s words were no more than a vague message of encouragement, but his move still stirred both camps.

Whereas the main opposition Democratic Party fully welcomed Ahn’s decision, the ruling Grand National Party dismissed the size of his influence, claiming that the professor’s decision would not affect the results of the race.

“Ahn’s participation in the campaign will encourage the swing voters to step out and solidify Park’s victory,” said a DP spokesperson. He also said that the backlash from the GNP camp proved Ahn’s influence.

GNP chairman Rep. Hong Joon-pyo, however, blasted Ahn for taking advantage of his academic position to extend his political reach.

“Ahn, as a national university professor, should not snoop around the political arena, making use of his academic reputation and taking sides with a specific party,” he said in the party’s Supreme Council meeting on Monday. “Should he truly aspire to join politics, he is first to give up his position as professor.”

GNP candidate Na Kyung-won also attacked her liberal rival for relying on Ahn’s reputation.

“This imminent race is to be the showdown of Park Won-soon versus Na Kyung-won,” she said in a radio interview on Monday morning.

“Whatever influence Ahn may have had on the mayoral race, it has already been reflected in past public polls and voters will no longer turn in favor of Park, just because Ahn already announced his support.”

She resolved to carry out her campaign plans to meet the people without being fazed by Ahn or the liberal camp.

Though controversies remained as to how far the SNU professor would be willing to go in campaigning, his appearance once again gave rise to speculation that he may rise as a potential candidate in next year’s presidential race.

This was especially so as Ahn’s position as Park’s campaign mentor corresponds to that of Rep. Park Geun-hye in the GNP camp.

Ever since he gave up his bid to run for Seoul mayor early last month, Ahn has denied such any intention to run, but has nevertheless been mentioned as a possible rival to the former GNP chairwoman.

The GNP’s Park, who paid a visit to Daegu to support a GNP candidate in a district chief race, refrained from commenting on Ahn’s move.

Amid the pre-vote drama, the candidates staged a heated debate on Monday during the fourth and last televised forum.

They also stepped up their attacks on each other’s qualifications.

“I have suffered a great deal from the GNP’s false propaganda and personal slanders,” said Park. “It is sad that the ruling political party should show such graceless behavior.”

Na questioned Park’s alleged financial irregularities, accusing the Beautiful Foundation, a welfare organization led by Park, of taking funds from conglomerates that the foundation criticized.

She also brought up allegations that Park forged his family registration and academic history.

Both also clashed on the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement bill, free school meals and the Han River Renaissance project.

Voting in the by-election is to take place from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday.



By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)