Different move of two opposition leaders

Independent lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo is expanding the boundary of his activities, after disclosing his intent to form independent organization of his own in the re-election and by-elections scheduled in October.

After visiting his parents’ home in Busan on Thursday, Ahn will hold a meeting with members in the Busan region of “Tomorrow Forum,” a private organization in support of him that was active in last year’s presidential election. Then, he will move to the village of Bongha in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province to pay his respect to the late President Roh Moo-hyun. It will be his second visit to Bongha since he visited the village immediately after declaring his presidential candidacy in September last year. On this coming Saturday, he will attend a commemorative ceremony of the May 18 (1980) Democratization Movement and a forum meeting in the Gwangju region. Watchers say that he has effectively kicked off a campaign to secure leadership of the opposition camp against the main opposition Democratic Party.

The Democratic Party is on high alert as it could face an uphill battle due to the Ahn Cheol-soo variable in October’s re-election and by-election, which the party deems the last chance to regain people’s confidence. Followed by last year`s April 11 general elections and 18th presidential election, the main opposition party confirm‍ed the public’s waning support of the party through the April 24 re-election and by-elections this year again.

After paying the respect at the May 18 National Cemetery in Gwangju on Thursday, the party will announce the “Gwangju Declaration” to entail its planned reform measures. Rep. Moon Jae-in, who was the party’s presidential candidate, is said to not attend the event, however. A source from Moon’s side said, “Rep. Moon already visited the May 18 National Cemetery alone on Sunday.” Moon also was absent from the May 4 national convention of the party, which elected its leadership. Moon keeps low profile in politics when compared with Ahn.