Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has allowed the People Power Party to set the terms and timing for unifying his presidential bid with Kim Moon-soo’s campaign. An official from Han’s camp confirmed the decision came after Kim became the party’s nominee. Han informed the PPP that he would leave all logistics of a campaign merger to the party.
Earlier, the PPP announced plans to create an internal group to explore unifying the two presidential bids. Spokesperson Shin Dong-wook said the party would begin discussions with Han, who declared his independent run last week. However, no date has been set for these talks. Kim Moon-soo, a former labor minister, was nominated Saturday as the PPP’s candidate for the June 3 election.
Han Duck-soo has remained a strong conservative favorite to challenge Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung, who currently leads in major opinion polls. The PPP aims to avoid a split in conservative votes by potentially consolidating the campaigns. The party views Han as a vital figure who could help close the polling gap with Lee.
Meanwhile, the PPP faces urgent deadlines. The National Election Commission will order printed campaign materials by May 7. The final registration deadline for presidential candidates is May 11. Ballot printing will begin on May 25. These dates leave the party little room to delay any unification talks or decisions.
Han’s decision to let the PPP lead campaign unification reflects growing pressure on conservatives to coordinate before the election. As the key phrase “Han Duck-soo campaign merger” gains attention, the party appears focused on building a united front against the Democratic Party. The Han Duck-soo campaign merger, while not yet finalized, could redefine the dynamics of the presidential race.
Despite uncertainty around the specifics, the People Power Party remains optimistic that the Han Duck-soo campaign merger could bolster their standing. The party’s strategists believe that consolidating the conservative vote is essential to mounting a credible challenge. With limited time and high stakes, all eyes are on the progress of the Han Duck-soo campaign merger.
