Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, said on the 16th, "I agree with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon that the midterm expansion capacity will determine the success or failure of the 21st presidential election."
After lunch with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon at Seoul City Hall that afternoon, Ahn noted, "I felt that my political stance was similar to Mayor Oh's."
He claimed, "Former Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung's approval rating has remained at 35% in every poll," adding, "This means that moderate voters are reserving their decisions apart from the existing solid support base."
Ahn emphasized, "Ultimately, what moderate voters want is the candidate's morality and ability. In this regard, I believe I am superior to Lee Jae-myung."
Ahn stated that he would also cooperate with Mayor Oh on issues related to artificial intelligence (AI) and welfare policy.
Ahn mentioned, "I am planning joint research with Mayor Oh on the AI research center being built in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, and the AI institute scheduled to be established at KAIST in Seongnam."
Ahn added, "The 'companion of the weak' that Mayor Oh is emphasizing is similar to my pledged concept of 'reassuring welfare,' and I believe it is a concept that I can fully incorporate into my pledges." Ahn also received a pledge book and USB materials regarding the Stepstone Income and Seoul Run from Mayor Oh that day.
Members of the People Power Party who are participating in the party's primary are consecutively meeting with Mayor Oh. On the evening of the 15th, former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo met with Oh at the mayor's residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul. On the morning of that day, they held a breakfast meeting with former Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., and then met with Representative Na Kyung-won.
This is seen as an attempt to absorb the support base of Mayor Oh, who is evaluated as having a high midterm expansion capacity. Previously, Mayor Oh had stated his position in favor of the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, unlike major presidential candidates within the party, such as former Minister Kim and former Mayor Hong.
On the 12th, when he declared he would not run for the presidential election, Mayor Oh said, "To normalize the abnormal, I will play the role of a stepping stone." He noted, "No one in the People Power Party can be free from the responsibility for the failure of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration," and expressed his willingness to help anyone if their vision is aligned with "again growth" and "companionship with the weak."