Ahn won’t run, supports Park for Seoul mayoral by-election

Popular professor, civic activist agree on latter’s candidacy


After days of speculation, Professor Ahn Cheol-soo ended his dalliance with candidacy for Seoul mayor on Tuesday, giving an endorsement to lawyer-turned-civil activist Park Won-soon.

“Park has long dedicated himself to promoting civil rights in Korea and is sufficiently qualified to serve as Seoul’s mayor,” said Ahn in a press conference at the Sejong Center for Performing Arts in Seoul on Tuesday afternoon after a closed-door meeting with Park.

“I am grateful for the support which the people have shown for me over the last few days but I believe that it was a reflection of their strong yearning for leadership changes in our society.”

Park earlier had declared he would vie for the post, whereas Ahn had refrained from confirming a run, despite his big lead in most of the recent public polls.

Prof. Ahn Cheol-soo (right) and civic activist Park Won-soon embrace after Ahn’s announcement on Tuesday that he will support Park in next month’s Seoul mayoral by-election. (Chung Hee-cho/The Korea Herald)

“We were both more interested in creating a new world and not in the mayoral seat itself,” Park told the news conference.

“Our decision was an act of unselfishness, which rarely happens in the political arena, and Ahn’s resolution burdens me with heavier responsibilities.”

The solidarity of the two figures was seen as a watershed for political parties, which have been anxious over the appearance of a new power group able to sway next month’s by-election.

“Their decision was a big step towards opposition unity,” said the spokesperson of the main opposition Democratic Party.

“It is now the task of liberal candidates, including Park, to work for opposition camp solidarity.”

Park, after his talks with Ahn, met with former liberal Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook and agreed to cooperate to unify their camps, according to officials.

The Grand National Party, on the other hand, blamed Ahn for political grandstanding since he hinted at his candidacy last week.

“Ahn’s moves turned out to be a political show of the opposition camp to unify their candidates,” said the GNP spokesperson.

“This reminds us of Kwak No-hyun, who colluded with other candidates in order to win the election, with no regard of political beliefs or policies.”

Seoul’s education chief Kwak is currently facing a prosecutorial probe over allegations that he bought a rival candidate out of last year’s election.

Ahn and Park first met in 2000 while establishing the Beautiful Foundation, a charity venture, and maintained their ties as they both worked as nonexecutive directors of POSCO from 2005.

They are known to share a common interest in corporations’ social responsibility and the protection of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Unlike opposition-leaning Park, Ahn largely remained non-partisan but nevertheless hinted at his opposition to the ruling party, especially over the recent free school meal debate.

The candidate registration for the Oct. 26 by-elections is to take place on Oct. 6-7.

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