Actions initiated by the People Power Party for the unconventional selection of a new presidential contender
In Seoul on May 8, Kim Moon-soo, a contentious presidential candidate from the People Power Party (PPP), and his rival, former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, called it quits after a heated encounter. [News1]
The PPP, a conservative party, has been shrouded in political chaos due to the conflicting agendas and stances of its candidates, Kim Moon-soo and Han Duck-soo, vying for the 2025 presidential race.
Han Duck-soo, a former Prime Minister and temporary president, jumped ship and joined the PPP as its presidential candidate in May 2025. The leadership revoked Kim Moon-soo’s nomination, paving the way for Han's entrance. [1]
Han's campaign revolves around propelling South Korea forward, preventing its prosperity from collapsing, and pursuing a unifying approach aligned with the masses' will and the party's vision. [1] His candidacy signifies a division within the PPP, as he appeals to those seeking party consolidation and pragmatic governance. [1]
Meanwhile, Kim Moon-soo, a previous Labor Minister and an ally of impeached ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, clung to his victory in the PPP primary. Despite the party leadership's pressure to either merge with Han or step aside, Kim resisted and denounced the proposed replacements as illegal. [1] Kim's supporters are hardline loyalists who opposed Yoon's impeachment and are unwilling to distance themselves from the former President. [2]
Kim's ideology aligns with traditional conservative values, amplifying the party's base that remains staunchly loyal to Yoon amid the political fray. [2] In defiance of attempts to expel Yoon from the party, Kim advocates for the ex-President to decide his own fate and criticizes any efforts to dictate his status within the party as improper. [2]
In essence, Han Duck-soo promises to move South Korea forward with a unifying message, catering to those seeking electoral consolidation within the PPP. In contrast, Kim Moon-soo champions the conservative faction loyal to former President Yoon, resisting unity and advocating for a conservative platform steeped in Yoon's legacy and backed by hardline supporters. [1][2] This power struggle within the PPP underscores a wider ideological and strategic rift within South Korea’s conservative political scene, ahead of the 2025 presidential election on June 3. [1][2]
The power struggle between Han Duck-soo and Kim Moon-soo within the People Power Party (PPP) reflects a broader ideological and strategic rift in South Korea's policy-and-legislation scene, as their opposing opinions on governing strategies and alliances have stirred political chaos. This divide, centered around Han's push for party consolidation and pragmatic governance versus Kim's fervent defense of traditional conservative values and loyalty to former President Yoon Suk Yeol, is shaping the general-news discourse leading up to the 20225 presidential election on June 3.
