"Did Kim Propose Unification Without Knowing Han Is an Independent?"
"Don't Understand Why Financial Issues Were Raised Yesterday," Criticizes Han's Camp
Camp States: "Will Accept Results of Party Leadership's Poll"
The camp of Han Ducksoo, former Prime Minister and independent presidential pre-candidate, stated on May 9 that Han would accept the results of the ongoing candidate unification poll being conducted by the People Power Party leadership, regardless of whether he wins or loses.
At the same time, the camp criticized Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party presidential candidate, who had claimed that Han’s call for unification amounted to a “free ride,” saying, “Bringing this up now is only shooting himself in the foot.”
Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party presidential candidate, and Han Ducksoo, an independent presidential pre-candidate, are greeting each other after concluding their second meeting for candidate unification at Sarangjae, National Assembly, on May 8, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Lee Junghyun, spokesperson for the Han Ducksoo camp, met with reporters at the camp’s office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of May 9 and said, “If the party’s poll results show us in the lead and the party nominates us as the unified candidate, we will accept that. Conversely, if we are shown to be behind, we will also accept the outcome.”
Lee also left open the possibility of another meeting with Kim’s camp, separate from the poll being conducted by the party leadership.
He explained, “Kim Moonsoo’s side has canceled their local schedule today and is leaving room for a meeting between the candidates. Even from a common-sense perspective, there is a real possibility of a meeting between the candidates today. Out of all the days so far, today is the most important.”
Regarding the possibility of proposing another meeting to Kim’s camp first, he said, “We have no such intention. We have already said everything we needed to say in our two previous meetings, and yesterday there was sufficient discussion to grasp both sides’ positions, procedures, methods, and intentions regarding unification.”
Lee also addressed Kim’s remark during the previous day’s meeting, in which Kim accused Han of seeking a “free ride,” saying, “Was Kim unaware that Han is an independent? It does not seem appropriate to bring up financial matters, and it is only shooting himself in the foot.”
He continued, “I also did not understand why financial issues were brought up in the debate. Whether a candidate spends 2 billion won or 5 billion won, it is a personal decision, and since the candidates are in a position to take responsibility for that, that is likely why they did so.”
Kim, the previous day, had countered Han by saying, “I am a candidate who went through the primary and paid the required fees, so why are you showing up late and presenting a bill for unification?” The spokesperson’s comments suggest that such remarks are inappropriate.
Lee further pressed, “Did Kim not know that Han is an independent? During the primary process, Han immediately proposed unification 22 times over 18 days?was that proposal made without knowing?”
Lee also commented on Kim’s claim to party priority rights, stating, “Giving priority to the party’s candidate is intended to ensure an efficient presidential election, not to hand over the entire party leadership.”
Regarding Kim’s request for a court injunction to block a candidate replacement, Lee criticized, “Politics should be resolved politically. Is it politics to hang on every word of a judge, calling it political oppression if the decision goes against you and acting triumphant if it goes in your favor? Politics is becoming excessively judicialized.”
Asked what would happen if unification is not achieved by the candidate registration deadline on May 11, he replied, “There are three days left. The groundwork for unification is being laid, so I believe there will be a good outcome.”
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