Ahn Cheol-soo's 'returned activist faction' remark criticizes party, eyes Seoul mayoral by-election

He said, "At such a critical moment, what does our party look like? A returned activist faction, rivaling the '86 activists' of the Democratic Party, is reducing the party to rubble." The remark is seen as targeting a specific faction within the party.

He explained that the activist generation has moved from the 386, 486 and 586 to today's 686, and that the '86 activist' label can be used by both left and right.

Park said Ahn's sharp messaging suggests "someone is acting as his message secretary, a very capable message manager." He judged that through these messages Ahn has already begun moving to prepare for next year's Seoul mayoral by-election.

Park noted that Ahn is being called a 'pro-Jang leader' or 'new Jang faction,' and said he has been very active within the party.

He said Ha, though serving as a People Power Party district committee chair, seems to be a leading figure of the Honam left who should be active at the core of the Democratic Party. He also noted that Han Ji-ah is well known as the niece of Rep. Han Hwa-gap, and said the term 'returned activist faction' does not feel unfamiliar when looking at these figures.

He viewed the expression as effectively calling out the party's problem children.

He explained that in the public dispute with former leader Han Dong-hoon, Ahn defended Jang by describing the attacks on him as agitation and distortion. Park stressed that Ahn has become a solid new ally of Jang.

Park viewed the ultimate goal of Ahn's moves as running in the Seoul mayoral by-election. He predicted a very high likelihood of a Seoul mayoral by-election and judged that Ahn intends to run with Jang's support.

As for the other front, he analyzed it as the 'anti-Han Dong-hoon front,' given Ahn's use of expressions like 'returned activist faction' and 'Yeouido wrecker.'

Park reported that talk is circulating that the ethics committee could decide on announcements on the 18th such as a two-year suspension of party membership or a recommendation for party departure. He interpreted this as meaning that those attacking Jang and throwing the party into chaos will no longer be able to do so. He expected the committee's announcement to serve to quiet internal turmoil.

He said that as a result, a solid ally, Ahn, has joined the front that Jang had been fighting alone, and predicted that "the rout of the Han Dong-hoon camp is at hand."

Park said the group was one of the bodies leading calls for Jang's resignation but took considerable damage from issues involving Oh Se-hoon and Kwon Young-jin. He assessed that with Kwon's departure and the exits of key figures such as Jin Jong-ho and Seo Beom-soo, "ninety percent of Alternatives and Future is gone," and its political strength has weakened.

He pointed out that Lee, in his capacity as a current and former National Assembly speaker, played golf with Rep. Jo Jeong-sik, and that former National Assembly Vice Speaker Joo Hoy-young and current Vice Speaker Park Duk-heum also took part. Park strongly argued that it was inappropriate for Joo and Park to accept Lee's invitation and play golf. He recalled the controversy over golf played during floods and stressed the need for caution in lawmakers' golf activities.

He said, "Golf rounds should not be played carelessly," and mentioned how big a controversy golf during the flood period became. He warned that golf, beyond being simple exercise, is a setting where people spend long hours together and share many conversations, so it can invite political misunderstanding. Although there are rumors that Daegu-Gyeongbuk integration was discussed at the golf outing with Lee, he questioned whether only that topic was raised and made clear his position that it was inappropriate.

He interpreted Han's silence, despite his role as host of the meeting and as the leader of a faction made up of figures such as Seo Beom-soo and Jin Jong-ho, as stemming from having nothing to say. Park stressed that Han should admit his mistake and apologize, yet remains silent.

Park said Han's silence in a time of crisis is shrinking his standing. He advised Han, "At a time like this, if you criticize Seo Beom-soo and Jin Jong-ho as wrong, even at the cost of a beloved subordinate, people will take a second look," stressing that when problems arise within the party, a leader must take a clear position.

This is read as a statement showing a strong resolve to establish party discipline and prepare for the general election.

He argued that these constituency chairs should be replaced, even taking into account that Jin Jong-ho is a proportional representative. This is seen as a statement stressing the need for internal reform and as aimed at specific individuals.

Along with his position on replacing chairs who do not fight, Jang appears intent on quickly settling internal confusion and maintaining stable leadership.

On calls within the People Power Party for an interim convention, Park rebutted by comparing the situation with the Democratic Party. He pointed out that although Lee Jae-myung's approval rating is falling and figures such as Kim Min-seok, Chung Chung-rae and Song Young-gil in the Democratic Party have been clashing with one another, he had never seen candidates for a party convention fight simply because the approval rating of a president in office only 14 months has dropped. Park argued that it is the Democratic Party's situation that should cause concern, and that with Jang already securely in place in the People Power Party, demanding an interim convention is unnecessary.