Lee Nak-yon backs Kim Moon-soo to block what he called the threat of a “monstrous dictatorship” under Lee Jae-myung. The former prime minister under Moon Jae-in made the dramatic announcement on Tuesday, just a week before the presidential vote. Despite his past leadership of the Democratic Party, Lee declared his support for the conservative People Power Party candidate. He said he had reached a point where political loyalty must yield to the defense of democracy. Lee Nak-yon backs Kim Moon-soo in what he calls a necessary move to protect the rule of law.
Speaking at his New Future Democratic Party’s headquarters in Yeouido, Lee outlined his concerns about Lee Jae-myung’s candidacy. He pointed to the Democratic Party’s decision to nominate a candidate facing five criminal trials and 12 charges. These include subornation of perjury and election law violations, which Lee said undermine trust in democratic institutions. He accused the party of trying to protect one individual by dominating the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Lee Nak-yon backs Kim Moon-soo while warning against institutional collapse under a single-party rule.
Although Lee’s party remains ideologically aligned with the Democratic Party, he described himself as a centrist standing above partisan interests. He stated his move reflected a commitment to values rather than political labels. Lee said, “I can’t walk with those who threaten democracy for one man’s legal salvation.” He vowed to work with Kim Moon-soo on four political reforms if the conservative wins next week. Lee Nak-yon backs Kim Moon-soo and outlines plans for coalition government and constitutional reform.
Their shared agenda includes forming a unity government and launching a “Seventh Republic” through constitutional amendments. They also propose synchronizing general and presidential elections in 2028 and shortening both term lengths to three years. The plan draws on the country’s only previous coalition government under Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-pil from 1998 to 2001. Critics of the current Sixth Republic, formed in 1987, say it no longer meets today’s democratic challenges. The reforms aim to address outdated systems and open space for new leadership models.
Meanwhile, Kim Moon-soo continues to court endorsements from key conservative figures. On Tuesday, he met with former President Lee Myung-bak, who advised him to unify with Lee Jun-seok. The former president also encouraged Kim to meet Donald Trump soon to address security and trade issues. Last week, Kim met Park Geun-hye in Daegu as part of his outreach to conservative icons. As Lee Nak-yon backs Kim Moon-soo, the race intensifies with major figures aligning to stop the Democratic front-runner.
