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People Power Party's candidate replacement 'undemocratic,' Kim Moon-soo says

Published: 10 May. 2025, 10:41 Updated: 10 May. 2025, 17:36

SEO JI-EUN
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People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo holds an emergency press conference at his campaign office in Yeouido, western Seoul, on May 10, expressing his position on the party leadership’s unprecedented move to replace its nominee. [YONHAP]

Conservative People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo on Saturday condemned the party’s decision to revoke his nomination and replace him with former acting President Han Duck-soo, calling the move “a political coup” and vowing to pursue legal and political action.

“A political coup took place in the dead of night,” Kim said during a press conference at his campaign office in Yeouido, western Seoul. “Such an antidemocratic act is unprecedented not only in the history of Korea’s constitutional politics, but globally. Last night, democracy in our party died.”

Kim said the PPP’s emergency leadership committee had “illegally” stripped him of a candidacy that was “legitimately earned through the support of party members and the public.” He added that he would hold those responsible for the decision “legally and politically accountable.”

Following the press conference, Kim filed an application for injunctive relief with the Seoul Southern District Court, requesting that it suspend the effect of the party's decision to cancel his nomination, following a similar earlier legal challenge that was dismissed.

His remarks came hours after the PPP convened an emergency committee and election management body to begin the process of replacing him as its standard-bearer, following the collapse of talks between the candidate and the former acting president regarding potential unification. The party is moving to nominate Han instead, citing what it called a “considerable reason” under party rules that allow for candidate substitution.

The party’s internal vote, open to all members, is underway and will continue until 9 p.m. Saturday. If approved, the change will be finalized during a national committee meeting scheduled for Sunday — just ahead of the legal deadline to register candidates for the June 3 presidential election.

Later on Saturday, Han said he felt sorry for causing "public discomfort" over the failed attempt to merge candidacies with Kim, regardless of who was at fault.

“Whatever the circumstances or who may have been to blame, I want to apologize to the public for the confusion caused,” Han told Yonhap News TV in an interview.

He explained that the talks had broken down over differences of opinion regarding the prevention of strategic voting in a potential unification poll.

“My side pushed for a clause to prevent reverse selection while the other side insisted it be removed," he said. "That disagreement made a deal impossible, and the party appears to have taken the lead in pushing unification forward instead,” he said.

Responding to allegations from Kim’s side that he'd coordinated with party leadership during the process, Han called such coordination "impossible" and said rules related to the nomination process were established "under the party’s direction."

People Power Party interim leader Kwon Young-se speaks at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on May 10, addressing the party’s unprecedented decision to replace its presidential candidate. [YONHAP]

PPP interim leader Kwon Young-se defended the decision to revoke Kim's candidacy as a "painful" but necessary choice, citing the urgent need to unify the conservative camp, in a press briefing on Saturday.

“It was a command from party members to form a single candidacy with a competitive contender capable of stopping Lee Jae-myung’s dictatorship — under the PPP’s banner as candidate No. 2,” said Kwon.

Kwon criticized Kim for "casting aside the trust of party members like an old shoe” and “effectively sabotaging unification by stalling for time.” He continued accusing Kim of using the idea of a unified candidacy as “a tactic to secure his own nomination.”

“Efforts for a negotiated unification failed,” he said, offering an apology to the public and PPP members.

“It was a heavy and desperate decision," Kwon continued. "Whatever the outcome, I will take full responsibility.”

Update, May 10: Added comments from PPP interim leader Kwon Young-se's press conference.
Update, May 10: Added comments from former acting President Han Duck-soo.

BY SEO JI-EUN [[email protected]]