PPP Ramps Up Unification Pressure: "Poll Will Proceed Even If Kim-Han Debate Fails"

Kwon Youngse: "I Will Take Responsibility If It Means Stopping Lee Jaemyung"
Kwon Seongdong: "I Doubt Whether Kim Is a Pro-Democracy Activist or a Senior Member of Our Party"

On May 8, despite opposition from presidential candidate Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party announced that it would proceed with a one-on-one TV debate and a candidate preference poll to achieve a unified candidacy with former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo. The party intends to push forward with its roadmap to complete the unification between Kim and Han before the presidential candidate registration period, which runs from May 10 to 11.

Kwon Youngse, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, stated at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, "Many people are wondering why candidate Kim, who had pledged unification, has changed his stance. Unification is the demand of all party members and the people, and it is the command of the times." He emphasized that the unification roadmap would proceed as planned.

Although Kim's camp strongly opposed the party-hosted one-on-one TV debate that day, the party leadership stressed that it would conduct the planned poll even if the debate could not take place. After negotiations between Kim and Han broke down the previous day despite the leadership's request for unification, the party began to take compulsory measures.

Kwon said, "I will take full responsibility as the Emergency Response Committee Chairman. If it means preventing the dictatorship of Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, I will bear any responsibility. I earnestly appeal to you to achieve unification, even if it means stepping over me, and to lead us to victory in this presidential election."

Kwon Youngse, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th. 2025.5.8 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Previously, in a party member poll conducted by the People Power Party the previous day, 82.8% of participating members supported unification between Kim and Han, and among those in favor, 86.7% responded that an agreement should be reached by May 11.

Accordingly, the party leadership convened a general assembly of lawmakers late the previous evening and finalized the unification roadmap: a one-on-one debate broadcast on YouTube on May 8, and a candidate preference poll on May 9. The poll will begin at 7 p.m. on May 8, one hour after the debate starts, and will continue until 4 p.m. on May 9. The results will be determined using the same method as the party's 2nd and 3rd primary rounds: 50% party member vote and 50% public opinion poll.

The party leadership maintains that there are no issues with this process, citing Article 74, Paragraph 2 of the party constitution, which states, "Notwithstanding the regulations for selecting the presidential candidate, if there is a significant reason, matters regarding the selection of the presidential candidate shall be deliberated by the election commission and decided by the resolution of the Supreme Council (Emergency Response Committee)."

In contrast, Kim held an emergency press conference that morning and effectively rejected the party leadership's demands, saying, "Let each candidate campaign for a week, hold a broadcast debate next Wednesday (May 14), and conduct the poll on Thursday and Friday (May 15-16) to achieve unification."

In response, Kwon, the floor leader, stated, "More than 80% of party members have issued a stern order to unify before the presidential candidate registration. Therefore, candidate Kim should comply with this."

He continued, "Nevertheless, seeing him hold a press conference this morning, ignoring the order of the party members just to protect that insignificant presidential candidacy, I wonder whether he is truly the pro-democracy activist we have believed him to be, or the veteran politician of our party who has served three terms as a lawmaker, two terms as Gyeonggi Province governor, and as Minister of Employment and Labor."

Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, is holding an emergency press conference at the election campaign office in Yeouido, Seoul on May 8, 2025. Photo by Kang Jinhyung