Kim Moon-soo was seen leaving the APEC venue in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, after announcing the suspension of his campaign schedule. Yonhap News

Presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party (PPP) and the party leadership faced a dramatic standoff on May 6 over unifying with independent candidate Han Deok-soo. Kim suspended his campaign, accusing the party of attempting to oust him as its official candidate. Kwon Young-se, chairman of the party's emergency leadership committee, announced a full party vote on the proposed unification and declared he would resign if unification with Han is not achieved by the official candidate registration deadline on May 11. Han voiced support for the party leadership, saying, “Failure to unify would be a betrayal of the people.”

The confrontation intensified after Kim issued a statement accusing the party of refusing to acknowledge him as its legitimate candidate and excluding him from key decisions. He criticized the emergency committee for unilaterally forming a unification task force without his participation.

Earlier that day, Kim visited wildfire-affected areas in Yeongdeok, Pohang, and Gyeongju, key conservative strongholds in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) region. It was seen as an effort to shore up support as a united conservative candidate. However, upon learning that Kwon and PPP floor leader Kweon Seong-dong had suspended a general assembly to persuade him in person, Kim abruptly ended his schedule and returned to Seoul. “This party, which failed to protect two presidents, is now trying to bring down its own candidate,” Kim said. “I will return to Seoul to prepare a comprehensive response.”

Kim and the leadership also clashed over plans to convene the National Committee on May 8 and 9 and a party convention on May 10. Kim saw these moves as an attempt to amend party rules and forcibly replace him. PPP Secretary General Lee Yang-soo explained that the preparations were intended for a possible scenario in which Han wins the unification, but Kim remained skeptical, which was seen by some as an effort to frame himself as being oppressed by his own party.

Kim proposed a “one-shot primary” that would include not only Han but also other candidates such as Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party, with no fixed deadline. However, the party leadership insisted that the unification race with Han take place before May 11, with the winner becoming the official PPP candidate. Kim argued that since he was legitimately nominated, he should maintain the lead, while the party contended that he had committed to a swift unification with Han and should follow through.

The PPP has intensified pressure on Kim. At the general assembly, Kwon stated, “Breaking faith is a betrayal of our members and the public,” and announced a full party vote on May 7 to determine support for unification. He reiterated that he would resign if unification failed by May 11.

PPP lawmakers also joined the effort. Representatives Uhm Tae-young (second-term) and Kim Dae-sik (first-term) met with Kim in Gyeongju to convey the calls of junior and mid-level lawmakers for unification. Eleven PPP affiliated mayors and governors including Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and North Chungcheong Governor Kim Young-hwan released a joint statement urging Kim and Han to meet immediately, declaring, “Victory is impossible without unification.” Forty local party chapter heads issued similar appeals.

Calls to replace Kim have also emerged. Yoon Hee-sook, head of the party-affiliated Yeouido Research Institute, wrote on Facebook, “If Kim refuses to participate in unification despite the conditions being met, he has misled party members and must be replaced.”

Still, some within the party voiced concerns about the pressure being exerted. Kim’s chief of staff, former senior party member Kim Jae-won, told CBS Radio, “Kim has endured repeated humiliation during this campaign,” citing rumors that he was merely a “placeholder candidate” who would be replaced within 3 days by Han. A second-term lawmaker added, “The party should respect Kim as the official nominee and allow him to make his own decisions. Forcing a pre-scripted scenario will only complicate things.” Many lawmakers who did not attend the general assembly are reportedly supportive of Kim, who was elected through the party convention.