New party lacks vision

Ahn's fresh experiment is met with skepticism

Ahn Cheolsoo, a two-time presidential candidate, has unveiled a plan to launch a new political party in the run-up to the April 15 National Assembly election. At a press conference Sunday, Ahn said his party would be completely different from other political parties, saying it would be "small, sharing and innovative."

Accusing existing parties of being outdated and producing merely fake news, the software entrepreneur-turned-politician said his party would be less dependent on the Assembly's financial support.

"Mobile platforms will be used to help members join in the party's decision-making process," he said. "I will also achieve innovation by using blockchain technology that will make the party's finances more transparent."

Ahn said the party would take the pragmatic and middle-of-the-road line and do away with "ideologies" and "parochialism" that have long defined Korean politics.

The party will be the fourth created or co-led by Ahn, who entered politics in 2012, meaning that he has "founded" a party once every two years. Considering that he had pledged to create a party that would last 100 years, his promise Sunday sounds hollow.

Ahn faces hopes and challenges. Given that the percentage of undecided voters abhorring large parties exceeds 30 percent in some opinion polls, he may find a niche in the upcoming election. Yet it remains to be seen whether his centrist party can gain a significant foothold, given the political landscape that has become more polarized amid the brouhaha involving former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, who was indicted on charges of corruption and other irregularities. Furthermore, Ahn's brand value appears to have diminished somewhat following his string of election failures.

His fresh experiment with a new party has been met with skepticism. Although Ahn vowed to make this party different, his commitment still looks vague. He should show that the party will be trustworthy enough to serve the broader populace for a long time. Otherwise voters will not fall for carpetbaggery again.