With less than a week before candidate registration closes, South Korea’s ruling party faces a bitter internal struggle. The conservative candidacy merger between Kim Moon-soo and Han Duck-soo, once seen as a strategic move, now appears increasingly unlikely. Despite repeated calls for unity, talks between the party leadership and Kim remain deadlocked.
The People Power Party (PPP), desperate to consolidate conservative votes, hoped to merge the bids of Kim and Han. Han, the former prime minister, declared his candidacy shortly after stepping down as acting president. The party leadership immediately threw its weight behind the conservative candidacy merger, setting a deadline of May 11.
Polls suggest Han may fare better against Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung in a three-way race. A Realmeter survey from early May placed Lee at 46.5 percent, with Han at 34.3 percent and Lee Jun-seok at 5.9 percent. If Kim replaces Han in the lineup, his support drops to 27.8 percent, widening Lee’s lead.
Despite these numbers, Kim remains defiant. After securing the PPP nomination last Saturday, he openly criticised the leadership’s handling of the merger process. In a public statement, Kim accused party leaders of excluding him from key decisions. He said they continue to treat him as a secondary figure, despite his primary victory.
Kim’s frustration deepened after a Monday night meeting with interim leader Kwon Young-se and floor leader Kweon Seong-dong. The talks, intended to smooth differences over the conservative candidacy merger, ended without consensus. Both sides disagreed on the timing and structure of the unification process.
According to Kim, the leadership formed a merger committee without consulting him. He said he asked for their cooperation in forming an election team, but received no support. He insisted the presidential candidate should take the lead in such matters, not party figures acting unilaterally.
Kwon responded sharply, warning that Kim risks betraying public trust by resisting the merger. He even offered to resign as interim leader if the effort fails. Speaking during a general party meeting, Kwon argued that voters demand unity in the face of Lee Jae-myung’s popularity.
Han also backed the PPP leadership’s stance during a debate hosted by the Kwanhun Club on Tuesday. He said failing to complete the conservative candidacy merger would betray the public’s expectation for a united front. His spokesperson, Lee Jung-hyun, echoed those views during a separate briefing.
Lee stressed that a successful conservative candidacy merger would restore public confidence and energise the conservative base. He urged both sides to finalise the deal by May 11 to give voters clarity.
But the standoff shows no sign of easing. Kim’s supporters argue the leadership is ignoring the result of the party primary. They insist any merger must place Kim at the centre, not as a concession to polls or outside pressure.
Deputy spokesperson Choi In-ho defended Kim’s position in a Facebook post, calling the nomination result legitimate and democratic. He criticised efforts to sideline Kim in favour of Han, who remains an independent.
The stakes are high. The conservative candidacy merger could determine the right’s ability to challenge Lee in the general election. Without unity, the PPP risks splitting its base and conceding the race to the Democratic Party.
As tensions escalate and deadlines approach, the future of the conservative bloc remains deeply uncertain.
