Han Ducksoo Now a Fixed Factor... People Power Party Candidates Compete for Clarity on Unification

All Four Primary Candidates Express Willingness to Unite
"One-Shot Primary" and "Unification from the Start" Highlighted as Sincere Approaches

People Power Party presidential primary candidates are now competing to present a clearer stance regarding unification with Han Ducksoo, the acting president and prime minister. As the momentum for unification within the party grows stronger, analysts say that the candidates have begun to treat Han's candidacy as a given rather than a variable, and are now devising their strategies accordingly.

On April 25, Representative Ahn Cheolsoo stated on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show," "If Han's candidacy is taken as a given, we must unite our strength under a big tent." This marks a shift from his position at the second primary debate the previous day, where he had opposed unification.

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo, who had previously shifted his stance to support unification with Han, went a step further. On April 24, Hong wrote on Facebook, "Even if I become the final candidate, I will hold a 'one-shot primary' with Han to unify the conservative candidate." A member of his campaign said, "Hong was the first to mention the big tent," adding, "We are confident that we can win even if we unify with Han." At the same time, he emphasized the expansion of the big tent, saying they would embrace pro-impeachment and anti-impeachment factions within the party, Lee Junseok, the Reform New Party's presidential candidate, and even non-mainstream groups.

Kim Moonsoo, former Minister of Employment and Labor, who has supported unification from the beginning, emphasized sincerity. At a press conference that day, Kim said, "From the start, I stated that we should unify, whether it is Han Ducksoo or even Kim Ducksoo," and evaluated, "It is fortunate and natural that others are also changing their minds."

Former party leader Han Donghoon also left the possibility of unification open. In the previous day's debate, he said, "It is not appropriate for a reasonable and rational figure like Han to have the primary process muddled by what people around him are saying," but added, "I will do whatever it takes and unite our strength to win."

The fact that all four primary candidates have expressed their willingness to unify appears to be a result of their awareness of party sentiment. As the perception of Han's presence and the necessity of unification grows within the party, candidates are believed to have changed their positions. In the third primary, which narrows the field to two candidates and reflects party sentiment and public opinion equally, the outcome is thought to hinge on party sentiment. A People Power Party official said, "As the primary progresses, the expected convention effect has disappeared, and concerns about competitiveness in the general election have grown, leading to increased calls for unification," adding, "If we cannot even embrace Han Ducksoo, we may be abandoned by party members who see the mission of regime change as paramount."

Meanwhile, as the primary moves past its midpoint, tensions are continuing to rise. Yoon Heeseok, chief spokesperson for Han Donghoon's campaign, issued a statement criticizing, "The party's election management committee has changed the debate format so that the candidate with the initiative can ask questions unilaterally."