People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo and independent candidate Han Duck-soo engaged in a second round of negotiations for candidate unification on the 8th. This unprecedented meeting, which was held publicly for an hour, ended without yielding any results, confirming only the differences in the positions of the two candidates.
Candidate Han noted that unification must be completed before the candidate registration deadline set by the National Election Commission on the 11th, and he has repeatedly stated that he will immediately join the People Power Party if he becomes the final candidate.
He also stated that if unification cannot be achieved, he would not register as an official candidate for the presidential election, as previously mentioned.
Candidate Kim challenged, “Are you presenting a bill without even joining the party?”
The two candidates publicly met in the second round of negotiations held in the afternoon at the Sarangjae in Yeouido, Seoul.
Candidate Han said, “Let’s settle this right away today or tomorrow morning,” adding, “I will follow the methods that the party suggests. I’m fine with any method that the candidate prefers.”
He then urged, “Please do not suggest a week later; let us do it right away this evening or tomorrow morning,” and asked, “Why can’t we do it?” He also pointed out, “The candidate’s suggestion to ‘postpone unification by a week’ feels like a reluctance to proceed.”
Candidate Kim stated, “I have always thought about unification, I am thinking about it now, and I have never said that I would not unify,” emphasizing, “Naturally, the first target for unification is Prime Minister (Han Duck-soo).”
Still, he asked, “If candidate Han has decided to run, isn’t it only natural to join the People Power Party? Why are you staying outside?”
In response, candidate Han said, “If unification goes well, I will immediately join the People Power Party.”
He explained that he was unable to participate in the party's primaries because, as acting president, he had to respond to national issues such as U.S. tariff responses. He emphasized that questioning why he doesn’t join the People Power Party is a trivial matter and stressed the need to unite to prevent the emergence of an anti-democratic government.
Candidate Kim pointed out, “Why show up late and present a bill to someone who has already gone through all the procedures and paid the fees to join the People Power Party?”
Candidate Han conveyed his desire for unification expressed during his visit to Daegu before the meeting, saying, “The public knows that candidate Kim mentioned unifying with Han Duck-soo 22 times during the 18-day period from April 19 to May 6.”
He added, “If we fail to do this properly, to be honest, it seems that both the candidate and I will be in trouble.”
Meanwhile, before the public meeting started, more than 50 supporters from both sides gathered at Sarangjae, and some supporters repeatedly shouted slogans demanding, “Withdraw!”
All members of the People Power Party, who view today as the deadline for negotiations for unification ahead of final candidate registration on the 11th, are currently waiting on the premises. Shin Dong-uk, the chief spokesperson, noted, “I sincerely ask that we reach an agreement on unification by today (the 8th).”