People Power Party Faces Backlash Over Candidate Replacement

In an unprecedented move, the People Power Party (PPP) has initiated a controversial candidate replacement for the upcoming presidential election, igniting fierce backlash from the ousted candidate, Kim Moon-soo. This dramatic turn of events unfolded in the early hours of May 10, 2025, when the party's emergency committee revoked Kim Moon-soo's candidacy and quickly moved to endorse Han Duck-soo instead.

The turmoil began with failed negotiations between the camps of Kim Moon-soo and Han Duck-soo regarding candidate unification. The discussions, which resumed late last night, ended in a stalemate, prompting the PPP leadership to delegate all decision-making power to the emergency countermeasures committee. This committee, after a series of late-night meetings, decided to strip Kim Moon-soo of his candidacy and expedite the registration of Han Duck-soo as the new candidate.

During a press conference held at his campaign office in Yeouido, Kim Moon-soo condemned the actions of the party leadership, labeling the candidate replacement as a "political coup" and a blatant violation of democratic principles. He stated, "Last night, our party's democracy died," and accused the leadership of orchestrating a plan to remove him from the race even before he was officially selected.

Kim Moon-soo's camp insisted that the unification process should involve a general public opinion poll without the 'reverse selection prevention clause,' while Han Duck-soo's camp argued for maintaining the existing rules. The first round of negotiations, which began at 8:30 PM, concluded within half an hour, and a second round that started at 10:30 PM also failed to reconcile the differences.

After the breakdown of negotiations, Kim Moon-soo's team expressed outrage, claiming that Han Duck-soo's camp had changed their position during discussions. Kim Jae-won, a prominent figure in Kim's camp, criticized the party leadership for attempting to replace Kim Moon-soo with Han Duck-soo, stating, "What do you mean by delegating everything? They are trying to remove Kim Moon-soo and replace him with Han Duck-soo!"

In a swift response to the emergency committee's decision, Kim Moon-soo announced his intention to pursue legal and political actions against what he described as an "illegal and unfair" candidate replacement. He emphasized that he would hold accountable those responsible for this situation, asserting, "I will continue to fight to protect the liberal democracy of South Korea."

The PPP's leadership, led by the emergency committee, convened early in the morning to finalize the candidate replacement procedures. By 1 AM, Kim Moon-soo's candidacy was officially revoked, and within just one hour, the committee prepared 32 documents to facilitate the registration of Han Duck-soo as the new candidate.

As the day progressed, Kim Moon-soo took his protest further by occupying the presidential candidate's office at the party's central headquarters. He entered the office around 9:56 AM without facing any resistance from party officials, indicating the heightened tensions within the party.

During his press conference, Kim Moon-soo introduced himself as the "presidential candidate of the People Power Party" and reiterated his stance against the party leadership's actions. He characterized the situation as a grave threat to democracy in South Korea, stating, "A political coup took place last night, and this is an anti-democratic act that has never occurred in the history of our nation or the world."

Kim's remarks reflect a deepening rift within the PPP, with many party members expressing concerns over the legitimacy of the emergency committee's authority to make such significant decisions without the involvement of the National Committee. Critics within the party have voiced their discontent, questioning whether it is democratic for an unelected committee to nullify the candidacy of an elected candidate.

The candidate replacement process is expected to culminate with a vote among all party members by 9 PM on May 10, 2025, followed by a resolution from the National Committee on May 11, 2025. Should the party leadership's actions proceed as planned, Han Duck-soo will officially be recognized as the PPP's presidential candidate.

As the situation develops, Kim Moon-soo's supporters are rallying behind him, vowing to contest the party's decision and uphold democratic principles within the party. The unfolding drama highlights the intense power struggles within South Korea's political landscape, raising questions about the future direction of the People Power Party and the upcoming presidential election.

In the midst of this political turmoil, the ramifications of the candidate replacement could resonate beyond the party, potentially affecting voter sentiment and the overall political climate in the lead-up to the election. As Kim Moon-soo prepares to take legal action and mobilize his supporters, the stakes have never been higher for both candidates and the party at large.