Han Donghoon Criticizes Replacement of Moonsoo Kim as "Abandonment of Party Democracy"

Han, Runner-up in Primary, Strongly Criticizes People Power Party's Candidate Replacement
770,000 Party Members Participated in Multiple Stages of the Primary
Pro-Yoon Leadership Is Making Our Party a Laughingstock
Who Gave Such Authority to the Unelected Emergency Committee?

Former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon criticized the emergency committee's move to replace the candidate after the breakdown of unification talks between presidential candidate Moonsoo Kim and independent former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, calling it "an abandonment of party democracy and common sense."

On the afternoon of May 9, Han wrote on Facebook, "After Moonsoo Kim, former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, and pro-Yoon factions worked together like 'one team' to block me, they are now fighting over the candidacy."

He further emphasized, "The actions of former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo and the pro-Yoon faction, who deliberately did not participate in the primary and now seek to 'cut in line' for a free ride, are gravely wrong. Moonsoo Kim is also greatly at fault for intentionally exploiting such a situation, referring to the so-called 'Kim Ducksoo' scenario, in order to block me."

He added, "However, the pro-Yoon leadership is abandoning party democracy and common sense by invalidating the primary in which 770,000 dues-paying party members participated through several stages, forcibly removing Moonsoo Kim as the candidate, and replacing him with former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, who is not even a party member. This is making our party a laughingstock. Who gave such authority to an unelected emergency committee?"

The camps of Moonsoo Kim and former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo held working-level talks at the National Assembly from 8:30 p.m. the previous day to discuss unification, but the negotiations ultimately broke down due to disagreements over a clause to prevent strategic voting in opinion polls.

In response, the People Power Party leadership convened an emergency committee to replace the candidate, in accordance with the resolution of the general assembly of lawmakers.

Handong Hoon (left) and Moonsoo Kim, presidential primary candidates of the People Power Party, are holding hands and stepping down from the stage at the 5th party convention held on May 3 at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. 2025.05.03 Photo by Dongjoo Yoon