Will South Korea's Minor Party Candidate Lee Merge with PPP's Kim?

Synopsis
In a bold move, South Korea's minor party candidate Lee Jun-seok firmly states his lack of interest in merging candidacies with PPP's Kim Moon-soo, just two weeks before the election. This decision could significantly alter the political landscape as candidates gear up for crucial rallies in the greater Seoul region.
Key Takeaways
- Lee Jun-seok firmly rejects merging with Kim Moon-soo.
- The election is just two weeks away.
- Lee Jae-myung leads the polls with 50% support.
- Lee emphasizes the importance of youth votes.
- Both major parties are ramping up their campaign efforts.
Seoul, May 20 (NationPress) In a recent statement, Lee Jun-seok, the presidential candidate from the minor New Reform Party (NRP), affirmed that he has "no intention" of merging his candidacy with Kim Moon-soo from the People Power Party (PPP). This declaration comes as the election approaches in just two weeks.
During an interview with SBS radio on Tuesday, Lee addressed the ongoing speculation regarding a possible merger of their candidacies aimed at challenging the Democratic Party (DP) candidate, Lee Jae-myung, who currently leads the polls with approximately 50% support, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
"The process and procedure itself would appear very old-fashioned, so I have no intention of doing it whatsoever," Lee stated.
When questioned about the possibility of a merger if key aides of former President Yoon Suk Yeol extended an apology, Lee responded, "I have never set such preconditions, nor do I expect an apology."
Having previously been the leader of the PPP, Lee departed from the party due to ongoing disputes with Yoon and his supporters, subsequently establishing the NRP last year.
Lee emphasized, "Unless we garner votes from the youth and reduce Lee Jae-myung's approval ratings from above 45%, all else is meaningless," reiterating that Kim cannot defeat the DP's Lee.
A recent Realmeter survey indicated that Lee Jae-myung is leading with 50.2% support compared to Kim's 35.6%, leaving Lee from the NRP in third place with 8.7%.
As the political landscape heats up, both the Democratic Party and the People Power Party are ramping up their campaign rallies in the greater Seoul area, aiming to connect with centrist voters.