Han Donghoon Follows Hong Junpyo in Hinting at Possible Unification with Han Ducksoo

People Power Party Candidates Signal Support for Han Ducksoo
Responding to Calls for a 'Big Tent' Against Lee Jaemyung

Presidential primary candidates from the People Power Party are increasingly keeping the possibility of unifying their candidacies with Han Ducksoo, Acting President and Prime Minister, open, focusing their efforts on consolidating support among conservative voters. This move is seen as reflecting voices within the party that believe Han's candidacy and a potential unification process could be advantageous for boosting support for conservative candidates, especially given that former Democratic Party leader Lee Jaemyung currently leads in approval ratings.

Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, Acting President, is leaving the National Assembly after delivering the supplementary budget speech at the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 24th. Photo by Yonhap News

On the morning of the 24th, former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon hinted at the possibility of unification with Acting President Han through a post on his social media account, Facebook, stating, "After achieving an overwhelming victory in the primary, I will work with everyone for victory in the main election." Han Donghoon added, "In particular, Prime Minister Han Ducksoo and I worked together to resolve the unprecedented martial law situation while minimizing conflict," and emphasized, "We share the exact same vision to protect and help the future of South Korea flourish."

Previously, former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo also announced on Facebook the day before, "If Acting President Han Ducksoo resigns from his acting position and runs in the June 3 presidential election, even if I become the candidate, I will leave the door open for negotiations on a big-tent unification of anti-Lee Jaemyung forces." This marks a dramatic shift in his stance, considering that until the morning of the same day, he had been negative about unification with Han Ducksoo.

In the case of former Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moonsu, he has already been positive about unification with Acting President Han since the first round of the primary. Among the four finalists in the People Power Party primary, only Representative Ahn Cheolsoo does not appear open to forming an alliance with Han. On this day, Representative Ahn wrote on Facebook, addressing Han Ducksoo, "Running for president is an act of shirking responsibility," and pleaded, "Please do not run."

The reason behind the change in stance by both former Mayor Hong and former leader Han Donghoon toward a positive view on unification with Han Ducksoo is analyzed as a calculation that this could help secure conservative support. This is because party members who believe that building a 'big tent' is necessary to defeat former leader Lee are likely to rally behind candidates who are open to unification.

In the one-on-one debate for the second round of the primary scheduled for the afternoon, issues such as unification with Acting President Han are expected to be key topics. The first debate, to be held twice that day, will feature former Minister Kim Moonsu and former leader Han Donghoon, while the second debate will be between Representative Ahn Cheolsoo and former Minister Kim Moonsu. It is expected that Han Donghoon and Ahn Cheolsoo, both representing the pro-impeachment faction, will repeatedly press former Minister Kim Moonsu, a leading figure in the anti-impeachment camp, to clarify his stance on martial law apologies and the impeachment of former President Yoon.