Who Are the Final Contenders for the PPP Presidential Primary in South Korea?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The PPP has narrowed its candidates to Kim Moon-soo and Han Dong-hoon.
- The final nominee will face Lee Jae-myung in a critical election.
- The election is a response to the political upheaval following President Yoon Suk Yeol's ousting.
- Both contenders have different strategies for uniting the conservative front.
- Acting President Han Duck-soo's potential candidacy adds uncertainty to the race.
Seoul, April 29 (NationPress) The People Power Party (PPP) of South Korea has officially narrowed its presidential candidate list down to two final contenders as of Tuesday. The announcement of the nominee is anticipated later this week, who will then compete against the Democratic Party (DP) candidate, Lee Jae-myung.
Selected as the conservative party's final contenders are former Labour Minister Kim Moon-soo and former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, according to party officials.
Both candidates have advanced to the final round, aiming for the party's ticket in the presidential election scheduled for June 3, which will determine who succeeds the ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, following his controversial martial law bid.
Other candidates, including former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo and PPP lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, have been eliminated from the race.
As no candidate achieved a majority vote in the second round of the primary, which was based on both party member votes and public opinion polls, a decisive runoff between Kim and Han will be held to determine the party's standard-bearer.
Both contenders are ready to challenge Lee Jae-myung, who currently holds a significant lead in public polls.
Kim, who opposed Yoon's impeachment, has vowed to unite the country amid political division, branding the upcoming election as a 'war of ideologies' against the liberal DP.
Han, a supporter of Yoon's ouster, indicated his focus on consolidating forces to effectively contest Lee.
The next steps involve debate sessions scheduled for Wednesday, followed by an electorate vote and public opinion surveys in the subsequent two days. The PPP's candidate is expected to be confirmed at a party convention on Saturday.
Another significant factor influencing the electoral landscape is acting President Han Duck-soo, who is contemplating a candidacy announcement later this week.
This veteran technocrat, lacking party affiliation, may need to run as an independent or align with the PPP's nominee to represent the wider conservative bloc, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
The PPP contenders have expressed willingness to participate in further negotiations to unify their stance with Han if he enters the race, a strategy viewed as a means to enhance the conservatives' prospects against Lee.