People Power Party Holds Emergency Meeting to Finalize Membership
Han Deoksoo Sends Letter to Party Members:
"We Must Achieve Victory in the Presidential Election"
Presidential pre-candidate Han Deoksoo joined the People Power Party on May 10.
Han's campaign announced in a written briefing that, "In accordance with the decisions of the People Power Party's Emergency Response Committee and Election Countermeasures Committee this morning, Han has completed the process of joining the party and has become a full member with responsibilities."
Han announced his party membership through a letter addressed to fellow People Power Party members. In the letter, he stated, "I deeply appreciate the warm welcome from the party leadership and all fellow members. My goal is singular: the miracle must not end here, and the Republic of Korea must continue to move forward. That is all there is."
Independent presidential pre-candidate Han Deoksoo is holding a press briefing after a meeting related to unification with People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moonsoo at the National Assembly Riverside Library on the 8th. 2025.5.8 Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Han emphasized, "We must win," and added, "To win, unification is absolutely necessary. We must join forces and move forward together toward the critical goal of changing politics to revive the economy."
Addressing People Power Party members, he said, "I am a mercenary who suddenly appeared from outside," and continued, "As of today, we are no longer just partners or supporters to each other?we are family. We must win this presidential election."
Earlier, around midnight at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, the People Power Party convened an emergency committee meeting to reselect its presidential candidate. Chief spokesperson Shin Dongwook stated, "Tonight, we will likely have to cancel Kim's candidacy and complete the process of registering a new candidate."
The People Power Party plans to hold meetings of the emergency and election committees to approve the cancellation of Kim's candidacy and register former Prime Minister Han as the new candidate.
Additionally, to secure democratic legitimacy, the party plans to hold a full-member vote from morning until evening on the same day.
The ballot will ask members to vote for or against the nomination of former Prime Minister Han. Once the result is determined, the emergency committee will reconvene to confirm the outcome, and on the 11th, the National Committee will proceed with a majority approval process.
The following is the full text of the letter addressed to party members.
■ Letter to People Power Party Members
Dear fellow party members, greetings. As of today (May 10), I, Han Deoksoo, have joined the People Power Party.
I deeply appreciate the warm welcome from the party leadership and all fellow members.
My goal is singular: the miracle must not end here, and the Republic of Korea must continue to move forward. That is all there is. I believe this is the will of the people and of all party members.
I have a sense of urgent crisis that the Republic of Korea, which we have worked so hard to build, may come to a halt due to misguided politics.
We must win. To win, unification is absolutely necessary. We must join forces and move forward together toward the critical goal of changing politics to revive the economy. This is the command of the party members, the people, and the times.
I believe that all our party's candidates and supporters, including Kim Moonsoo, Han Donghoon, Hong Junpyo, and Ahn Cheolsoo, share the same sentiment as I do. I have already set aside everything. We must go forward together.
Fellow party members,
I entered public service in 1970 and have served for nearly half a century. For the last three years of that period, as Prime Minister, I worked fiercely?truly fiercely?on national affairs in close communication with the People Power Party, the ruling party.
I am not a mercenary who suddenly appeared from outside. Over the past three years, I have stood with you at the forefront of national affairs, fighting against the runaway opposition.
Whenever the National Assembly was in session, whenever impeachment motions were passed, People Power Party lawmakers were my most reliable policy partners and supporters. When opposition lawmakers pushed through unreasonable policies solely by strength of numbers, People Power Party lawmakers and supporters stood up with all their might to block the legislative dictatorship of the opposition.
As of today, we are no longer just partners or supporters to each other?we are family. With one heart and one body, we must revive the economy, defend liberal democracy, and protect the Republic of Korea.
We must win this presidential election. We must achieve victory in the presidential election.
Fellow party members,
We are already one. Differences do not matter when it comes to victory.
Let us unite. If we become one, we can surely win. For ourselves and for future generations, we must win. The future of the Republic of Korea depends on our victory.
Thank you.
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