Ahn Cheol-soo suspends campaigning for ruling party chairmanship amid conflict with President Yoon

• Published date: 23 February 2023
• Publication title: The Korea Times

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, a chairman candidate for the ruling People Power Party (PPP), suspended his public activities on Monday, following a conflict with the presidential office over his remarks on a coalition between himself and President Yoon Suk Yeol.

According to Ahn's camp, the three-term lawmaker has canceled his appearance at a volunteer service and an interview with local broadcaster KBS, as well as other public events scheduled for the day, other than a radio interview with broadcaster MBC that he had appeared on before the announcement. He will hold an event to announce his political vision on Tuesday as scheduled.

"Ahn cleared his (Monday) schedule to take a breather and explore strategies for political affairs," his camp said in a text message to reporters. "With the chairman election being overheated, we will focus on exploring policies more specifically."

The suspension came after Ahn and the presidential office exchanged accusations over Ahn's description of his relationship with President Yoon as a "coalition" during the past weekend.

On Sunday, senior presidential secretary for political affairs Lee Jin-bok told reporters that "Ahn's use of the term 'Ahn-Yoon coalition' is absolutely the wrong expression, because the president and the candidate are not on the same level," calling the remarks an "attempt to drag the president into the party chairman election."

According to another unnamed presidential secretary, "The president has said that he will consider those who seek political benefits by using terms such as 'Yoon haek gwan' destroyers or enemies," referring to a term which translates as "Yoon's close confidants." Ahn used the term during his appearance on a YouTube channel on Feb. 3.

During his radio interview with MBC on Monday morning, Ahn refuted the presidential office's criticisms.

"It is very inappropriate for the presidential office to intervene in the party's chairman election," he said.

However, he took a step back, also saying, "I will not use the term (Yoon-Ahn coalition) if the president thinks it is inappropriate."

Regarding the term "Yoon haek gwan," Ahn also said he didn't expect Yoon to be upset about it.

The suspension of Ahn's campaigning has a familiar ring. Former PPP lawmaker Na Kyung-won, who was leading surveys on the PPP chairmanship earlier this year, withdrew her bid following a conflict with the presidential office.

After Na dropped her bid, Ahn rose to the pole position...