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South Korea's Conservative Party Selects Kim Moon-soo as Presidential Candidate

The nomination sets the stage for a contentious June 3 election, with embattled liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung facing legal challenges and former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo entering the race as an independent conservative.

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Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Lee Ju-ho speaks during an emergency meeting of the National Security Council at the government complex in Seoul on May 2, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
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Overview

  • Kim Moon-soo, former Labor Minister, won the People Power Party's presidential nomination with 56.5% of the vote, defeating Han Dong-hoon.
  • Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo officially announced his independent bid for the presidency, pledging constitutional reforms and a shortened term if elected.
  • Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate and current frontrunner, faces a potential retrial after the Supreme Court overturned his acquittal on election law violations, which could disqualify him from the race.
  • Education Minister Lee Ju-ho has assumed the role of acting president following the resignations of Han Duck-soo and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, marking South Korea's third acting leader in five months.
  • The June 3 snap election was triggered by the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol over an unconstitutional martial law declaration, leaving the country in a prolonged period of political instability.