[URGENT] Ahn gives up Seoul mayor candidacy

Published : Sept 6, 2011 - 14:34 Updated : Sept 6, 2011 - 19:55

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.

Ahn Cheol-soo (right) and Park Won-soon (Yonhap News)

“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)

<한글기사>

[긴급] 안철수 불출마..박원순으로 단일화

(서울=연합뉴스) 최이락 기자 = 안철수 서울대 융합과학기술대학원장은 6일 10ㆍ26 서울시장 보궐선거 불출마를 선언하고 박원순 변호사(희망제작소 상임이사)에 대한 지지 의사를 밝혔다.

그는 이날 오후 세종문화회관에서 박 변호사와 공동 기자회견을 갖고 "박 변호 사가 우리 사회를 위해 헌신하면서 시민사회 운동의 새로운 꽃을 피운 분으로 서울 시장직을 누구보다 잘 수행할 분이라고 생각한다"며 "나는 이번 서울시장 보선에 출 마하지 않기로 했다"고 말했다.

안 원장은 "저에 대한 기대가 크다는 것도 안다. 너무 감사하고 부끄럽다"며 "

제게 보여준 기대 역시 우리 사회의 리더십에 대한 변화 열망이 저를 통해 표현된 것으로 여긴다"고 말했다.

이어 "서울시장 보선에 출마하는 대신 제 삶을 믿어주시고 성원해주신 기대를 잊지 않고 제가 아닌 사회를 먼저 생각하고 살아가는 정직하고 성실한 삶으로 보답 하겠다"고 강조했다.

안 원장이 서울시장 출마 의사를 접고 박 변호사로 후보 단일화가 이뤄짐에 따 라 서울시장 보선의 구도와 판세도 급변할 것으로 전망된다.

민주당 등 야권은 통합후보 선출 작업을 가속화할 것으로 보이는 반면 한나라당 은 외부 영입 등을 통한 중량감 있는 후보를 물색할 방침이어서 향후 선거전은 예측 불허의 혼전을 거듭할 것으로 관측된다.