Ahn promises ‘rational reform’

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo said Sunday that his forthcoming political party would seek rational reform, further distancing himself from the established parties that he has vowed to challenge in next year’s general election.

He also stepped up his attacks against the Park Geun-hye administration, lambasting its economic policies as “insufficient” and “uncreative.”

“The new political party will embrace ‘rational reform’ instead of ‘old progressivism’ and ‘reactionary conservatism,’” the independent lawmaker said in a press conference.

It was the second news conference about his future course of action in a week as a string of main opposition party lawmakers have bolted from the party to join him. Ahn has vowed to launch the party by next February and pledged he would not join forces with the New Politics Alliance for Democracy.

“Politics should be about the people, not political groups with their vested rights and exclusive power.”

For this, he called upon people in their 30s and 40s to break from their political skepticism and join his move for reform.

“Politics involves listening to those with different opinions without disregarding them,” the information technology guru-turned-politician said, referring to his youth-targeted talks before he joined politics.

Ahn’s choice of keywords ― moderate reform, communication and youth ― heated up the 2012 presidential election when he made a star appearance as a fresh alternative to conventional politicians.

Taking aim at the current administration, he also blasted President Park’s economic policies.

“President Park’s ‘creative economy’ is in no way creative, nor is it effective,” Ahn said.

“The old government-led system may no longer create the required vigor for our 21st century economy.”

While Ahn strode away with his political agenda, his former home NPAD continued its efforts to bring divided factions together and call in fresh figures.

They included renowned criminal psychologist Pyo Chang-won who joined the NPAD on Sunday, accepting the call of party leader Rep. Moon Jae-in.

“Distraught over the division and disintegration of the main opposition party, I felt obliged to offer my help,” Pyo said.

He also said that he had previously turned down Ahn’s offer to join his party.

Pyo is widely expected to run in next year’s parliamentary elections. His move also triggered speculation that other progressive scholars such as Dumun Political Strategy Institute director Lee Cheol-hee and Korea University professor Jang Ha-sung may follow suit.

The ruling Saenuri Party, meanwhile, dismissed Ahn’s remarks as insignificant.

“What counts more than words is the actual capacity to implement,” said spokesperson Shin Eui-jin after Ahn’s speech.

“My question to Ahn is ― how many of his ideas have actually taken shape over the past years?”

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