Kim's Side: "Kwon Told Hwang Woo-yeo the Unification Talks Would Collapse"
People Power Party: "A Show of Will Was Needed, But No Mention of Collapse"
The campaign of Kim Moonsoo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, publicly protested on May 7, claiming that the party leadership had approached Hwang Woo-yeo, the head of the election management committee, in an attempt to replace the candidate.
Kim Jae-won, former lawmaker and chief of staff for Kim Moonsoo, told reporters near a restaurant in Jongno-gu, Seoul, just before a candidate unification meeting between Kim and former Prime Minister Han Deoksoo, "Kwon Youngse, the emergency committee chair, reportedly visited Hwang, the election management committee chair, and requested that the candidate selection process resume starting tomorrow, claiming that the unification talks between Kim and Han would fall apart."
He added, "Right now, the two of them are meeting to discuss how to unify the candidacy and what roles they would take on in Korea, but the party is trying to force Kim out. If this is true, I cannot help but question what the party is doing and what kind of presidential election the party wants to see."
When asked by reporters whether he had protested to the party leadership, Kim replied, "There was no time to protest," and added, "I am here to inform the public."
Kim Moonsoo also criticized lawmakers and party leaders who had advocated for Han Deoksoo to be drafted as a candidate, saying after his meeting with Han, "Who was it that brought in someone who never even intended to register as a candidate? Who is blocking all opportunities for the candidates to meet, talk, and find common ground?"
Kim Moonsoo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is answering questions from reporters after a meeting related to candidate unification with Han Deoksu, an independent presidential preliminary candidate, at a restaurant in Jongno-gu, Seoul on May 7, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
In contrast, the People Power Party countered that much of Kwon Youngse's remarks had been distorted in their delivery. Chief spokesperson Shin Dongwook told reporters at the National Assembly, "Chair Kwon said to former election management chair Hwang, 'I'm glad you could meet this afternoon, and I hope it leads to a good result. However, since there is little time, whether the two candidates agree to unify or not, the election committee should continue its functions and prepare for what comes next.' That was the intent of his remarks."
He continued, "(Chair Kwon) explained that even if the candidates agree to unify, the subsequent procedures would fall under the jurisdiction of the election committee, so he hoped that Hwang would notify the committee members in advance and prepare for things like the format of TV debates or opinion polls."
Shin also mentioned that Hwang, who is currently serving as a co-chair of Kim Moonsoo's campaign, said he would step down from the election management committee chair position but would personally work to ensure candidate unification, as he told Chair Kwon. "So, Hwang probably conveyed to Kim's side that this is how the party feels and that he hopes for a positive outcome from today's talks between the two candidates," he added.
Regarding Kim Jae-won's claim that Chair Kwon predicted the talks would collapse, Shin said, "If the meeting doesn't go well, Chair Kwon may have thought it necessary for the party to show a strong desire for unification to both candidates. But how could he have said, just an hour before the meeting, that it was certain to fall apart? That would not make sense."
He further emphasized, "We have reconfirmed with former chair Hwang that Chair Kwon did not say anything to the effect of 'it is certain to collapse,' and Hwang has agreed to clarify this."
Independent presidential pre-candidate Han Deoksoo is leaving a restaurant in Jongno-gu, Seoul, after a meeting related to candidate unification with Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party presidential candidate, on May 7, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
