Kim Yongtae: "We Will Win in a Three-Way Race"
People Power Party: "Lee Junseok Must Decide Amid Hopes for Unification"
On May 27, Kim Yongtae, the interim leader of the People Power Party, stated, "We will win in a three-way race," after Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform Party, reiterated his refusal to unify candidacies.
On Facebook that day, Kim wrote, "Candidate Kim Moonsoo should maximize centrist expansion, and candidate Lee Junseok should maximize support from progressive and reform-minded voters, so that together we can prevent the rise of the Lee Jaemyung regime."
He continued, "I believe candidate Lee Junseok also recognizes this shared goal," and added, "In this main election, which will be a three-way race, our citizens will achieve a civic sovereignty revolution."
By dismissing the possibility of unification until the end of the campaign, candidate Lee Junseok effectively acknowledged the likelihood of a three-way contest. At a press conference at the National Assembly that day, Lee stated, "There will be no unification of candidates with those responsible for the state of emergency in this election."
However, he left some room for potential unification. Shin Dongwook, head spokesperson for the People Power Party's central election committee, said in a commentary that day, "We sincerely ask that you do not betray the public's hope and desire for unification."
Shin emphasized, "The debate over unification cannot be resolved merely through simple arithmetic or political engineering," and urged, "Now is the time for candidate Lee Junseok to make a decision."
He added, "We must create a government for the people, not a government to protect a single individual," and stated, "Candidate Kim Moonsoo will do his utmost until the end to build a big tent for the unification of reform forces."
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