The 21st presidential election is approaching, with only 27 days left, and Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party candidate, and Han Duck-soo, an independent candidate, will meet on the 7th. This is the first time Kim has met with Han since being selected as the party candidate at the convention, for the purpose of discussing unification negotiations. However, there are significant differences between the two candidates regarding the timing and method of unification, making it uncertain whether meaningful progress can be achieved.
The meeting between the two candidates was initiated by Kim. As of now, it is only known that they plan to meet at 6 p.m. without any attendees. The location of the meeting will be disclosed at 6 p.m. after their meeting. In a situation where disharmony persists between the candidates and the party leadership regarding unification, it appears they intend to minimize unnecessary controversy by limiting media exposure.
However, given the significant gap between Kim and the party leadership and mainstream regarding the timing and method of unification, it is unclear whether the meeting will yield clear progress. Kim's side has stated they can push for unification by the 25th, when the printing of ballots begins. They have also indicated that the unification target should include Lee Nak-yon, the advisor of the New Future Democratic Party, and Lee Jun-seok, the candidate of the Reform Party. They are reportedly negative about the unification method based on polls.
On the other hand, Han's side has expressed the stance that the unification of the two candidates must be completed within this week, so that one candidate can be registered before the deadline on the 11th. Han's spokesperson, Lee Jeong-hyeon, noted on CBS Radio that "The candidate registration is on the 11th, and once the registration is done, banners need to be put up the next day and promotional material submitted. To have a winning election, unification needs to occur as a way to enhance competitiveness, so it must happen before the 11th to have a chance to make it work."
Han's side indicated that it should be the party, not Kim, that becomes the official channel for the unification negotiations, showing signs of tension. The spokesperson stated, "We might meet and discuss things informally, but formally we need to discuss unification between the independent candidate Han Duck-soo and the People Power Party candidate," and added, "(All channels for unification) should primarily go through the party."
The People Power Party leadership also appears to be effectively supporting Han's side. People Power Party emergency response committee chair Kwon Young-se announced at a general meeting the day before that a survey on unification would be conducted among party members today, putting pressure on Kim. If the survey shows a majority of party members are in favor of unification, it is interpreted as the intention to finalize a single candidate by conducting public opinion polls on the two candidates ahead of the 11th, regardless of Kim's wishes.
In response, Kim stated in a position document the night before, "The public opinion survey is an act that undermines the unity of the party and should be halted immediately," adding, "From this point on, unification should be led entirely by the presidential candidate." However, the party leadership stated they would conduct the member survey as scheduled by automated response system (ARS). It is reported that the survey will include questions about the necessity of unification and when it would be preferable, before or after the 11th candidate registration.
If the parties involved in that day's meeting fail to reach an agreement on the timing and method of unification, internal conflicts within the party could intensify.
Kim's side did not hide their discomfort towards the party leadership, which is pressuring the official party presidential candidate. Kim's secretary stated, "The candidate has already publicly committed to unification multiple times, so he felt obligated to keep that promise, and his resolve to do so remains unchanged. However, the party seems to engage in actions that cast suspicion on whether they recognize the candidate as such, and it appears there is an intention to bring him down, with these repeated actions leading to a misdirected path."
Moreover, he pointed out, "(The candidate) being pressured by the party leadership, which should supervise the candidate, is a situation that is completely unacceptable," adding that "To simplify unification efforts, that understanding is necessary. If the party leadership continues to intervene by setting deadlines, putting pressure, and seeking to undermine the candidate, it will become increasingly difficult for the candidate to respond."
However, regarding the speculation that Kim might consider 'dissolving the emergency response committee' through party precedence, Kim's secretary clarified, "That is not practically possible." Previously, Kim had posted on social media a portion of comments made by Hong Joon-pyo, a former mayor of Daegu, which stated, "Since there is party precedence, Kim Moon-soo also has the authority to dissolve the current emergency response committee."