NPAD Member Rep. Ahn Cheol Soo Rejects Tripartite Leadership Proposal By Party Leader Moon Jae In

Rep. Ahn Cheol Soo on Sunday rejected the proposal of New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) Chairman Moon Jae In for a tripartite leadership system, instead, the NPAD member suggested the party should hold a party convention to vote for a new leader.

Korea Joongang Daily reported Nov. 30  that he has pondered on the idea over and over again before he declined with the proposal.

"I contemplated Moon's offer for a temporary [tripartite] leadership system over and over again," Ahn said during a press briefing. "But [I have come to the conclusion that] the troika system would fall short of offering the party a new path."

He continued, "I suggest we hold a party convention for reform, in which all party members, including Chairman Moon, could participate in the first stages of change."

He added that the three-man political alliance "is not enough to find a way out for [the] party," as noted by Dong-A Ilbo.

"If the new leadership seriously implements reform and proposes an integrated national resistance scheme involving all members of opposition parties, I am confident that we could expect the determination of many people outside the party," Ahn said.

Meanwhile, NPAD Chairman Moon during a press conference Sunday expressed his disappointment on the refusal and the suggestion of Ahn.

"It is regrettable that the proposal of a tri-party alliance was not accepted," Moon said. "I'll decide after listing to the opinions of the senior member committee (about an innovative party convention)."

On the other hand, nonmainstream members of NPAD called on party's chairman to accept the proposal of Ahn.

"(Accepting the offer) is the only way to bring us to victory in the 2016 general election and 2017 presidential election," NPAD Rep. Park Jie Won wrote on his social media account. "I sincerely urged Moon to recognize the significance of his decision."