South Korea’s People Power Party (PPP) has been thrown into disarray just weeks before the presidential election, after a dramatic internal power struggle saw the ousting and reinstatement of its candidate, Kim, within a span of 24 hours.
The crisis erupted early Saturday morning when the PPP abruptly revoked the nomination of 73-year-old Kim who had won the party’s primary just last week and replaced him with 75-year-old Han Duck-soo, a career bureaucrat and former acting president.
Han had recently resigned to launch a presidential bid as an independent before officially joining the PPP hours after Kim’s dismissal.
Kim denounced the move as a “political coup” and filed a court injunction, prompting an emergency hearing at the Seoul Southern District Court.
By late Saturday, the party reversed its decision after members voted to reject the candidate switch, effectively reinstating Kim as the party’s nominee.
“Everything will return to its rightful place,” Kim declared, thanking party members and citizens. “We will move forward to build a new and greater Republic of Korea.”
PPP interim leader Kwon Young-se, who oversaw the attempted reshuffle, announced his resignation, citing his failure to unify conservatives behind a single candidate.
“I take responsibility for this confusion and division,” Kwon stated.
The aborted candidacy swap had been aimed at consolidating conservative support and avoiding a liberal landslide, with polls showing Democratic Party frontrunner Lee Jae-myung widening his lead.
Talks between Han and Kim to merge their campaigns collapsed earlier last week.
Han, who joined the PPP shortly before the failed switch, said he “humbly accepts the decision of the people and party members.”
The debacle has sparked outrage within the PPP, with primary contenders criticizing the leadership.
One likened the move to a tactic “unusual even in North Korea,” while others demanded Han and former president Yoon Suk Yeol leave the party entirely.
The party has struggled to recover since the ousting of Yoon in December, after he declared martial law a move that triggered a constitutional crisis and mass protests.
Han, as Yoon’s former prime minister, has been criticized for failing to prevent the declaration and for alleged complicity.
Kim, by contrast, gained national prominence for being the sole cabinet member who refused to apologize for failing to stop Yoon’s attempt to suspend civilian rule and opposed his impeachment.
A former lawmaker and long-time democracy activist, Kim spent years fighting authoritarian regimes before later shifting his views post-Cold War.
A National Barometer Survey released this week showed Kim trailing Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung by 14 points (43% to 29%).
In a hypothetical matchup with Han, Lee led by 10 points (44% to 34%).
With his official registration now scheduled with the National Election Commission, Kim will face a steep climb to close the gap ahead of the June 3 election.
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