Newcomer shakes up political scene
All Ahn did was say he supported an independent candidate, liberal civic activist Park Won-soon, in the Seoul mayoral by-election in October. Park won the election handily thanks to Ahn’s support. In November, the software mogul announced he will give away a large chunk of his fortune, saying it was his longtime dream, and his star rose once again in public opinion polls.
Political analysts say voters are so tired with business-as-usual politics they’re looking for a savior — a nonpolitician and someone with no ties to the major parties — and both Ahn and Park Won-soon fit that bill. After the Ahn shock, existing political parties struggled to redefine their images. The ruling Grand National Party formed a new emergency leadership under its most promising presidential hopeful, Park Geun-hye, while the liberals merged and launched the Democratic Unity Party, both aimed at convincing voters that party politics can work.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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