S.Korea’s conservative party faces leadership clash

Seoul

Tensions are escalating inside South Korea’s conservative People Power Party (PPP) as its presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo clashed again with interim leader Kwon Young-se. The dispute centers on efforts to merge Kim’s campaign with that of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is also seeking the presidency.

Kim, a former labor minister, accused party leaders of trying to replace him with Han and rejected the merger proposal during his first meeting with PPP lawmakers since winning the nomination. Kwon countered that a true leader should put the party and nation above personal ambition.

The PPP plans to soon release poll results combining party member votes and public opinion to compare Kim and Han. Talks between Kim and Han have failed twice, and Han has set a May 11 deadline for an agreement, warning he will not enter the race otherwise.

The party remains deeply divided following the ouster of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, with many believing unity is crucial to defeating Democratic Party frontrunner Lee Jae-myung.

Amid the turmoil, Kim canceled campaign events in Daegu and Busan to oppose the leadership’s merger plan. Instead, he proposed both candidates campaign separately for a week, followed by debates and polls to determine the final nominee.

With just 25 days left until the election, the PPP’s internal strife threatens to weaken its chances against the ruling party.