After failing to forcibly change its presidential candidate, the conservative People Power Party (PPP) on May 11 officially registered Kim Moon-soo as its nominee for the upcoming presidential election scheduled for June 3. Although the unprecedented attempt to swap candidates was blocked by party members, critics argue that the former ruling party, which bears joint responsibility for the illegal martial law declaration on December 3 last year, has once again misused its authority for political purposes and undermined democracy.

The party's true face has been laid bare by a primary devoid of reflection, an unconvincing push for candidate unification, and an unreasonable, undemocratic attempt to change its presidential candidate. As a result, the PPP now faces mounting internal and external pressure to purge the pro-Yoon Suk-yeol faction and push for reform.

The leadership-driven effort to force a candidate change was ultimately scrapped when the party members’ votes on May 10 revealed more opposition than support. A last-minute plan to drop Kim and replace him with former acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had just joined the party, fell apart. Even the party’s base, which had been demanding swift candidate unification, exercised its veto. The PPP had previously claimed that 86 percent of its members in favor of candidate unification wanted it to happen before the 11th.

Observers believe the party base rejected the move because the rushed attempt to change its presidential candidate was seen as irrational and undemocratic. On the 10th, at 1 a.m., the PPP abruptly nullified Kim’s nomination, then opened a one-hour candidate registration period at 3 a.m., requiring 32 documents. Only Han, who had joined the party the opening of the same day, registered as a presidential candidate. Despite criticism from Kim and other contenders who participated in the party’s primary calling it a “coup attempt” and a “snatch,” the party leadership pressed ahead.

The PPP’s handling of the nomination process is increasingly being viewed not as a one-night fiasco, but as a month-long omnishambles. From the start of the party’s primary in mid-April to the candidate registration on that day, all attention had been focused on whether Kim would unify with Han.

As a result, key issues like accountability for the illegal martial law declaration and the impeachment crisis involving former President Yoon Suk-yeol, issues for which the former ruling party should have offered apologies and reflective alternatives, never took center stage. The primary was reduced to a mere “preliminary,” with Han, who had not even declared his candidacy or joined the party until the last moment, emerging as the focal point.

Once the primary concluded, the issue of unifying PPP’s presidential candidate Kim with Han consumed all party discourse. The clash between Han, considered the “second-in-command” of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, and Kim, a staunch opponent of Yoon’s impeachment, obscured the core issues of the presidential election. Discussions around expelling former President Yoon from the party and addressing pro-Yoon factions' support for illegal martial law declaration vanished from the agenda. Both Kim and Han also face criticism for their roles in sowing political distrust and contributing to the chaos. Kim, who had promised a swift unification during the primary but failed to follow through, and Han, who abandoned his role as “overseer of the presidential election” to opportunistically enter the race, are accused of damaging public trust.

Although the attempt to change the presidential candidate failed, it left a huge blow. Former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon and the pro-Han faction have begun calling for a purge of the pro-Yoon faction, saying, “If the coup forces retain their positions, then the coup has succeeded.” Voices calling for Kim to sever ties with Yoon and his allies are also likely to intensify.

With relations between Kim and the party leadership severely fractured, it remains uncertain whether they can form a united front through election day. The PPP now faces multiple tests as it prepares for the presidential election. While simultaneously mending divisions and turmoil within the party, it should prove that it is a political force that respects democracy.