Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party's presidential candidate team claimed on the 9th that the court's rejection of the injunction for 'recognition of candidate status' means that 'even the court could not deny Kim Moon-soo's status as a candidate.'
The candidate team stated in a statement that afternoon, 'The court dismissed the injunction filed by Kim Moon-soo. However, the decision clearly recognizes Kim Moon-soo as the presidential candidate of the People Power Party,' they noted.
They continued, 'Kim Moon-soo is a clear presidential candidate. No one can shake that position.'
Earlier, the Seoul Southern District Court's Civil Division 51 (Chief Judge Kwon Seong-soo) dismissed Kim's application for injunction for recognition of candidate status against the party.
The court judged that regarding the application to prevent the party from granting candidate status to a third party, 'Kim continuously expressed his intention to unify with independent candidate Han Duck-soo during the primary process,' adding, 'It cannot be viewed that the party's priority in party affairs is unconditionally guaranteed to Kim, who has a direct interest in the unification process related to candidate confirmation.'
Additionally, considering the party members' opinion polls and the purpose of Article 74, Clause 2 of the People Power Party's constitution, the court found it difficult to definitively conclude that pursuing a convention and national committee based on the results of a unification opinion poll constitutes a serious violation that exceeds the limits of the party's autonomy.
However, the court determined that regarding the application for 'confirmation that he is in a temporary status as a presidential candidate,' 'Currently, the People Power Party is not fully denying Kim's status as a presidential candidate,' and therefore, 'there is no need to seek this part of the application, nor is there any practical benefit in seeking the injunction ruling.'
Meanwhile, Lee Jung-hyun, spokesperson for independent candidate Han Duck-soo, commented that 'we are calmly watching regarding the decision to dismiss the injunction,' adding, 'What's important is winning the presidential election. Nothing else matters.'