Kim Proposes Debate on 14th and Polls on 15th-16th
"Forced Unification Must Stop, Could Lead to Legal Disputes"
People Power Party Leadership to Proceed with Debate on 8th as Planned
"Unification Is the Mandate of the Times, Surprised by Kim's Changed Stance"
Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, and the party leadership have entered a standoff over the process of unifying with Han Ducksoo, the former Prime Minister who is running as an independent presidential candidate. Kim has warned the leadership to step back from the unification process, proposing a plan to unify through a debate on the 14th and a public opinion poll on the 15th and 16th. In contrast, the party leadership intends to push ahead with the existing roadmap, which aims to complete the unification process by the 11th.
At 8:30 a.m. on this day, Kim held an emergency press conference at his campaign office in Yeouido, Seoul, proposing a week-long campaign period to maximize the synergy of unification and to allow for candidate verification. Kim criticized, "Candidate Han says he will do whatever the party tells him, but this kind of forced unification inspires neither emotion nor narrative."
He made it clear that he rejects the unification roadmap presented by the party leadership. Kim invoked his right to prioritize party affairs under the party constitution and regulations, warning the leadership to immediately halt any forced unification measures. Kim stated, "The ongoing unification process is a forced candidate replacement and an attempt to oust me, which could lead to legal disputes," adding, "From this moment, the party leadership must withdraw from any forced unification." He also said, "I will not participate in any debates unilaterally scheduled by the party without the candidate's consent."
Kim also sharply criticized the party leadership. Immediately after the press conference, at the Kwanhun Club debate, Kim said, "A few members of the party leadership are committing an act of undermining the party by trying to oust a candidate who was duly elected through a legitimate primary," and questioned, "In a party that has failed to protect the president twice, if a handful of people conspire to oust the candidate, will our fellow party members and the public accept it?"
Kwon Youngse People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman is speaking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th. 2025.5.8 Photo by Kim Hyunmin
The party leadership is determined to proceed with the existing unification roadmap.
At the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly this morning, Kwon Youngse, Chairman of the Emergency Response Committee, stated, "Many are puzzled as to why Candidate Kim has changed his stance. Unification is the demand of all party members and the public, and it is the mandate of our times," reaffirming his intention to proceed with the roadmap as planned. However, the one-on-one debate scheduled for today between Kim and former Prime Minister Han was canceled as it failed to materialize. Chairman Kwon said, "I will take full responsibility as the chairman of the Emergency Response Committee," and appealed, "Even if you must step over me, please achieve unification and lead us to victory in this presidential election."
According to the party member poll conducted by the People Power Party the previous day, 82.8% of participating members supported the unification of Kim and former Prime Minister Han. Among those in favor, 86.7% said that an agreement should be reached before the candidate registration deadline on the 11th. As a result, the party leadership convened a general assembly of lawmakers last night and finalized the unification roadmap, which includes a one-on-one debate via YouTube on the 8th and a candidate preference poll on the 9th.
The leadership maintains that there are no issues with their approach, citing Article 74, Paragraph 2 of the party constitution, which states, "Notwithstanding the regulations for selecting the presidential candidate, if there are significant reasons, matters concerning the selection of the presidential candidate shall be reviewed by the Election Management Committee and decided by the Supreme Council (Emergency Response Committee)."
Floor Leader Kwon Seongdong also criticized, "Watching this morning's press conference, where he tries to cling to the presidential candidacy by ignoring the mandate of party members, I question whether he is truly the democracy activist we have known, or the veteran politician who has served three terms as a lawmaker, two terms as Gyeonggi Province Governor, and as Minister of Employment and Labor."
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