Controversy arises as South Korean conservatives change their presidential nominee
The People Power Party (PPP) has been engulfed in turmoil following the ousting of former president Yoon Suk Yeol after declaring martial law in December. In a shocking turn of events last week, the PPP's primary winner, former labor minister Kim Moon-soo, had his nomination revoked before dawn on Saturday.
Interim party leader Kwon Young-se announced the switch, expressing his regret and disappointment at the failed unification talks. In Kim's place, the PPP decided to nominate career bureaucrat Han Duck-soo, a 75-year-old ex-acting president who recently resigned to run as an independent candidate.
Kim, also 73, dubbed the decision a "political coup." He argued that his nomination was unlawfully revoked despite being legitimately elected by the people and party members. Kim immediately filed a court injunction to suspend the move, leading to a roughly one-hour hearing by the Seoul Southern District Court.
As Han's nomination was expected to be finalized at the party's national committee meeting on Sunday, analysts emphasized the need for conservatives to rally behind a single candidate to avoid a potentially disastrous opposition landslide at the election. With Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party strongly leading in the polls, securing internal party support held paramount importance.
Han has held various roles under both liberal and conservative administrations, including finance minister and ambassador to the United States. However, as a former prime minister under Yoon, Han faced criticism for failing to prevent and allegedly cooperating with Yoon's controversial martial law declaration. When Han stepped down, his approval rating was dismally low.
Upon joining the PPP on Saturday, Han stated, "I've never once dreamed of running for president in my entire life. And yet I decided to enter the race because, over the past three years, I've come to realize, deeply and painfully, that our politics must change."
The Democratic Party gloated over the PPP's reversal, calling it a clear indication of fraud in the conservative primary. They also accused the PPP of compromising its internal democracy and questioned its continued existence following the controversial party maneuvers.
This unconventional party swap was a first for South Korean politics and generated wide-spread criticism and attention across the political spectrum.
- The People Power Party (PPP), following the ousting of former president Yoon Suk Yeol, has found itself in a state of turmoil.
- Kwon Young-se, the interim party leader of the PPP, expressed regret and disappointment over the failed unification talks, after the PPP's primary winner, Kim Moon-soo, had his nomination revoked.
- In Kim's place, the PPP decided to nominate career bureaucrat Han Duck-soo, a 75-year-old ex-acting president who recently resigned to run as an independent candidate, causing Kim to dub the decision a "political coup."
- The United States, given Han Duck-soo's previous tenure as ambassador, is a key player in South Korean politics and policy-and-legislation, and will likely have an influence on the upcoming election, as Han faces criticism for his role in Yoon's controversial martial law declaration.
