People Power Party Chairperson Kwon Young-sei noted early on the 10th that he made a painful decision to cancel the qualifications of presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo with "a heavy heart facing the harsh reality."
Chairperson Kwon held a press conference at the National Assembly that day and said, "After several emergency meetings and member opinion polls, we decided to cancel Kim's candidacy according to the collective will and the party's rules and establish a new candidate."
Chairperson Kwon stated, "Over 80% of our party members requested unification before the candidate registration date (10th to 11th)," and emphasized that it was a command from party members to unify around a competitive candidate who could stop the "dictatorship of Lee Jae-myung" as the People Power Party's candidate for "number 2." He added, "Unification is not a political choice for a particular individual or faction. It was not predetermined for anyone" and stated it was "the last slender hope to win this presidential election."
He also said of candidate Kim, "He threw away the trust of party members like a discarded shoe. He dragged out the time and effectively undermined the unification" and added, "For Kim, unification was merely a trick to become a candidate."
Chairperson Kwon remarked, "(As a result) the unification by agreement failed," and said, "I sincerely apologize to the people and fellow party members." He continued, "What we need to protect now is not a position but the country," and asserted, "I will fight together with the people, stronger, more humbly, and fiercely until the end, and I will surely win with actions, not words, and results, not expectations."
He added, "With a desperate heart, I made a heavy decision. No matter what the outcome is, I will take full responsibility."
The People Power Party began procedures to reselect Han Duck-soo as the presidential candidate instead of Kim early that morning, holding a meeting of the emergency committee and the election management committee. After a vote involving all party members that will be conducted by 9 p.m. that day, the emergency committee will reconvene at 10 p.m. and aim to complete the replacement to Han by the National Council's decision on the 11th at 5 p.m.