Decision to Overturn Party Convention Results and Cancel Kim Moonsoo's Candidacy
Han Ducksoo Registers as Sole Candidate After Early Morning Party Admission
Han Donghoon: "Nullifying a Primary with 770,000 Members Abandons Common Sense"
On May 10, the People Power Party announced that Han Ducksoo, a preliminary presidential candidate, had registered as the sole presidential candidate.
The People Power Party's Presidential Candidate Election Management Committee stated that, as a result of the registration process, only Han had registered as a candidate.
With only one candidate, the People Power Party is expected to select its candidate through a party-wide vote in the form of a yes-or-no ballot.
Previously, the People Power Party announced the cancellation of the nomination of Kim Moonsoo, who had been elected as the presidential candidate through the party convention.
In an official announcement, the People Power Party stated, "In accordance with Article 74-2 of the party constitution and Article 29 of the presidential candidate nomination regulations, we hereby announce the cancellation of the 21st presidential candidate's nomination."
Afterwards, from 3 a.m. to 4 a.m. on this day, the People Power Party accepted submissions including party membership verification forms and proceeded with the candidate registration process at the main building of the National Assembly. The required documents amounted to 32 items, all of which had to be submitted to the main building of the National Assembly.
On this day, Han applied to join the People Power Party and was admitted after a resolution by the Emergency Response Committee.
Han's camp announced in a written briefing, "Following the resolutions of the People Power Party's Emergency Response Committee and Election Countermeasures Committee this morning, Han completed the process of joining the party and became a responsible party member."
Han shared the news of his admission to the party in a letter addressed to fellow People Power Party members. In the letter, he said, "I deeply appreciate the warm welcome from the party leadership and fellow members," and added, "My only goal is that the miracle must not end here, and that the Republic of Korea must continue to move forward. That is all that matters."
Han emphasized, "We must win," and continued, "To win, unification is essential. We must form a scrum and move forward together toward the crucial goal of changing politics to revive the economy."
Addressing People Power Party members, he said, "I am a mercenary who suddenly came from outside," and added, "As of today, we are no longer just partners or supporters to each other?we are family. We must win this presidential election."
With Han as the sole candidate, the People Power Party is expected to conduct a party-wide vote from morning until evening.
The ballot will be a yes-or-no question regarding Han's nomination. Once the result is determined, the Emergency Response Committee will reconvene to confirm the outcome, and on May 11, the National Committee will proceed with the process of securing majority approval from its members nationwide.
Some within the People Power Party voiced opposition to this series of procedures.
Former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon wrote on social media, "The pro-Yoon leadership has invalidated a primary in which 770,000 responsible party members who pay dues participated at multiple stages, forcibly ousted candidate Kim Moonsoo, and replaced him with Han Ducksoo, who is not even a party member. This abandons party democracy and common sense," adding, "They are making our party a laughingstock. Who gave such authority to an unelected Emergency Response Committee?"
People Power Party lawmaker Bae Hyunjin also wrote on social media, "Is this absurd situation, where the final candidate chosen through the primary is suddenly removed in the middle of the night because unification negotiations are not going well, and a massive amount of paperwork is prepared and a new candidate registered at the National Assembly in just one hour from 3 to 4 a.m., really for anyone's benefit?" She continued, "I can't even imagine the bewilderment that will confront party members and citizens who were asleep all night, as well as the candidates who had accepted the primary results. Was the plan always to push through with force, regardless of whether it was Kim Moonsoo or anyone else who was elected?"
She added, "Although I have tried hard to respect the party, this late-night commotion clearly appears to be a serious challenge to the party's principles."
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