South Korea’s former prime minister and acting president, Han Duck-soo, ended his brief presidential campaign on Sunday, withdrawing from the People Power Party’s (PPP) nomination race just days before the snap election. His decision came after a week of growing internal divisions and failed attempts to unite the conservative faction. The party confirmed Kim Moon-soo as its official nominee following a vote by members on Saturday, putting an end to speculation that Han could replace him due to his wider public appeal.
“I humbly accept everything,” Han said in a brief statement on Sunday, expressing hope that Kim would succeed in the June 3 election. Han’s late entry into the race had disrupted an earlier consensus around Kim, creating divisions within the party. Efforts to unite the two candidates fell apart during the week.
Kim officially registered as the PPP’s presidential candidate on Sunday, positioning himself as the conservative challenger to opposition Democratic Party frontrunner Lee Jae-myung. The snap election was called after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment in April, following his controversial imposition of martial law in December, which was later ruled a violation of his duties.
Lee, a former governor and long-time rival of the conservatives, currently leads in the polls and is expected to benefit from the split within the right-wing vote. Kim, selected at a party convention the previous week, had resisted pressure to step aside for Han, despite Han’s perceived electability. Han, who had initially declined to enter the race while still serving as prime minister, only reversed his decision days before the internal vote.
With Han’s exit, the PPP is now focusing on consolidating conservative support behind Kim to avoid a fractured electorate that could hand the victory to Lee.
