Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party presidential candidate, said on the 8th, after the second round of talks with independent candidate Han Duck-soo, "I will suggest we meet again tomorrow." Han noted that if a unification agreement is not achieved by the 11th, he may support Kim indirectly through the constitutional coalition.
The two candidates met with reporters after a one-hour public meeting at the National Assembly's Sarangjae outdoor cafe that afternoon.
Kim stated regarding the possibility of additional meetings for unification negotiations, "I will suggest we should meet again tomorrow at any time."
Regarding measures to resolve deepening internal conflicts over unification, he said, "Election campaigning is a process of securing those who think differently or do not know you," adding, "Those in the party who do not support me are naturally people I will seek out and persuade."
Regarding the relatively low approval ratings in polls compared to Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate, he noted, "The approval ratings are not fixed. They differ depending on methods and timing. Therefore, the issues can be resolved quickly, and once the official election campaign committee is established and campaigning begins, I believe the ratings will rise dramatically." This suggests that he anticipates his approval ratings will increase and that internal party conflicts will be resolved once he is confirmed as the official candidate.
He reiterated suspicions about forces planning the so-called 'Han Duck-soo draft theory'. Kim said, "There were ongoing other activities during the primary process. This aspect is neither correct nor just, and I will certainly trace it later and take severe measures."
Throughout the meeting, Kim requested Han to join the party first. In response to a question about whether there would be a unification proposal before candidate registration if Han joins the party, Kim stated, "Once you join, you are our party member," adding, "What we will do is different from what is being discussed outside," but he did not mention specific proposals.
Following Kim, Han, who stood in front of the camera, responded to the question regarding whether the unification discord had already reduced the synergy effect by saying, "This is a matter for the highest political experts to judge. I will not make a judgment on that issue."
In particular, Han expressed that if unification is not achieved by the 11th, which he deemed a deadline, he would consider supporting Kim's future actions.
He said, "Those with the same thoughts should come together," adding, "No matter which direction the unification goes, I will do my utmost to assist Kim as much as I can," and expressed that it is uncertain whether this would involve properly explaining economic issues to the public or diplomatic matters, but he would mobilize all his 50 years of experience and do his part to help the constitutional coalition.
He also responded regarding communication with the People Power Party leadership during the presidential candidacy process, saying, "I did not do anything that would influence the primary process."
He stated that even if Kim had not actively expressed a desire for unification during the primary process, he would have run. He added, "This election, which does not have unification as a premise, will be a very difficult election," emphasizing, "It must happen and I believe it will. Registering as a candidate without unification would be the minimum courtesy to the public."