Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo Calls for Conservative Unity Before South Korea’s Snap Election

Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has urged the People Power Party to present a united front against Lee Jae-myung, the front-runner for the presidency.

Ahead of the country’s June 3 snap election, South Korea’s former prime minister, Han Duck-soo, encouraged conservatives on Tuesday to support a single presidential candidate, claiming that doing otherwise would be a “great betrayal of the people.”

Speaking during a debate organized by the powerful Kwanhun Club, Han emphasized that in order to avoid dividing the conservative vote, he saw no choice but to work with the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and its candidate, former labor minister Kim Moon-soo.

In his most straightforward plea for a unity ticket to date, Han stated, “I’ve never thought that unification would fail because that would be a great betrayal of the people.”

The call comes as opposition Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung, who leans liberal, continues to lead surveys. According to a survey published by the JoongAng Ilbo on Tuesday, Lee had about 50% of the vote, far more than Kim and Han combined.

Han might be in a better position to confront Lee, as seen by his 36% polling in a hypothetical three-way race, compared to Kim’s 33% if he ran on a unity ticket. Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party, a smaller party that trails, was also included in the survey.

On Tuesday, however, Kim voiced his displeasure and criticized the PPP for keeping him out of the unity candidacy process. He hinted at chaos inside the ruling bloc when he wrote on Facebook, “I was not included in the process of running a joint candidacy.”

Han is using his increased visibility to further his cause. Han just resigned as acting president after President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached. Along with highlighting his trade credentials, he asserted that he was the most qualified individual to oversee South Korea’s vital economic connections with Washington.

In reference to recent bilateral discussions about US tariffs affecting industries like auto manufacturing, he stated, “I believe I’m the one who’s been dealing with trade issues between South Korea and the US for the longest time, who can do the best job.”

Yoon’s removal by the Constitutional Court last month for his contentious declaration of martial law created a leadership void and prompted urgent appeals for political unity, which in turn sparked the unexpected presidential contest.