No Majority Winner, Final Primary Set for May 3
Hong Joonpyo Eliminated: "I Will Return to Private Life"
Ahn Cheolsoo: "I Will Devote My Efforts to Changing the Government"
Former Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moonsoo and former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon have advanced to the final round of the People Power Party's presidential primary.
Hong Joonpyo, the former mayor of Daegu who was eliminated from the race, announced his retirement from politics, stating, "I will return to private life and live comfortably."
The People Power Party's presidential primary election management committee announced the results of the second round of the primary at around 2 p.m. at the party's headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul.
Hong Joonpyo, who had advanced to the top four, and People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheolsoo were eliminated.
Since no candidate received a majority of the votes in the second round, the final primary between former Minister Kim and former leader Han will be held on May 3.
The second round of the primary was conducted under rules that weighted party member votes at 50% and a public opinion poll at 50%.
In the party member vote held on April 27 and 28, 390,004 out of 765,773 eligible members participated, marking a turnout of 50.93%. The public opinion poll surveyed 6,000 people across five agencies, with measures in place to prevent strategic voting.
The rankings and vote percentages of the candidates were not disclosed on this day. Therefore, it is unknown whether Kim Moonsoo or Han Donghoon led the vote.
Kim Moonsoo and Han Donghoon, who advanced to the third round, will hold a one-on-one debate on April 30. The final candidate will be selected at the party convention held at KINTEX in Ilsan on May 3, following an electoral college vote (50%) and a public opinion poll (50%) on May 1 and 2.
The final round is expected to be a contest between the "anti-impeachment" and "pro-impeachment" factions. Former Minister Kim is classified as anti-impeachment, while former leader Han is considered pro-impeachment.
Kim Moonsoo stated, "I am very grateful to have the opportunity to compete with Han Donghoon in the final round," adding, "I will do my utmost to ensure that the people can be happier."
Han Donghoon said, "In the upcoming primary process, I will regard Kim Moonsoo not as a competitor but as a partner, and together we will become a united team that can defeat Lee Jaemyung."
On the 28th, Hong Junpyo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, spoke about his 'corporate and labor policy' direction during a policy meeting held at the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
Immediately after the results were announced, Hong Joonpyo expressed his intention to retire from politics, saying, "Thanks to your care over the past 30 years, I am graduating from my political life today in an exemplary and clean manner. I am truly grateful."
Hong Joonpyo stated, "Now I will return to being a citizen," and added, "I will return to private life and live comfortably. My role in this presidential election ends here."
Ahn Cheolsoo commented, "Today, I humbly accept the choice of the people and party members," and added, "Regardless of who becomes the final candidate, I will devote my efforts to stopping Lee Jaemyung and achieving a change of government."
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