Ahn Cheol-soo must directly talk to the people

A close aide to potential presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo claimed in a news conference Thursday that Jeong June-guil, a media relations officer of the ruling Saenuri Party, threatened to expose scandals against Ahn if he runs in the December election. Certain observers view the claim as a prelude to Ahn’s declaration of his candidacy, as he has shifted to the offensive. If the recent release of his book expressing his views on major socio-political issues is his way of announcing his election pledges, the latest claim can be considered a sort of declaration that he will run for president. The attendance of Rep. Song Ho-chang of the main opposition Democratic United Party in the news conference and the party`s proxy war for Ahn indicate that the former IT guru and the party are forming an alliance.

Needless to say, Jeong is primarily responsible for his inappropriate act. Though a friend of Keum Tae-seop, a lawyer and Ahn’s close aide, he should have refrained from making comments that could cause misunderstanding because they are on different political sides. Talking of Ahn’s rumored bribery and extramarital affair was a rash act that failed to differentiate public affairs from private. Park Geun-hye, Saenuri’s presidential candidate, also should not have said she could not understand why Keum exaggerated a conversation with his friend. If one of her aides caused trouble with improper comments, she should have first gotten the truth and made an apology.

Others, however, say Ahn made the claim after a thorough political calculation. Another theory is that he might have attempted to cast a damper on a series of suspicions raised against him. Ahn`s conspiracy theory about the media trying to find skeletons in his closet indicates his lack of understanding of the media`s role. In more advanced democracies, a presidential candidate goes through a rigorous screening process by the media on everything from his or her private lives to the ability to govern. In a sense, Ahn’s failure to announce whether he will run has delayed the full-fledged screening process for him.

Ahn’s potentially explosive claim that came at the peak of the main opposition party’s candidate nomination process might also be a political scheme to steal the spotlight. More questions are being raised about him. He needs to explain in person the allegations suggesting his inconsistency in words and behavior. Reporters can also hear directly from Park Geun-hye. How much longer must journalists listen to unclear answers through Ahn`s spokesmen or attorneys? More than anything, Ahn should make it clear whether he will run as soon as possible.