Kim Moon-soo is the hardline presidential candidate chosen by South Korea’s conservatives

Former labor minister Kim Moon-soo was selected by South Korea’s conservative People Power Party on Saturday as its nominee for the June 3 presidential election. Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted due to his unsuccessful effort to implement martial emergency.

Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party, who has a significant double-digit lead in polls over all of the declared conservative contenders, will oppose Kim.

Kim, 73, was Yoon’s labor minister and has promised to enact business-friendly measures if elected. He was a labor activist during his college years but eventually became a hardcore conservative.

In his victory address, he outlined a broad conservative agenda for the nation, promising to adopt a tough stance against North Korea and to incentivize enterprises, innovation, and science.

Recalling his time as a labor and democracy activist in college, for which he was imprisoned and expelled, he also promised to implement measures that would better assist young workers and the poor.

“I have never abandoned the weakest among us in the lowest of places,” he added.

But, ostensibly aware of the public outcry following Yoon’s effort to impose martial law, he added that the party needed to demonstrate that it was beginning anew in order to recruit supporters.

In terms of public support, the conservative party is still behind the liberals, although the difference has closed since the first few weeks following the imposition of martial law in early December. One of the few members of the party who still believes Yoon’s dismissal was unnecessary is Kim.

Kim received 13% of the vote, while Lee, the liberal contender, continues to lead with almost 50% of the public, according to a poll issued Monday by pollster Realmeter.

A court decision this week, however, upended a lower court finding that exonerated Lee of election law from a prior contest and raised questions about his eligibility to run for president. It was unclear when the Supreme Court will issue a new decision after sending the case back to an appeals court.

Yoon’s former prime minister, Han Duck-soo, declared his intention to run for president on Friday in an attempt to capitalize on his increased awareness. Despite not being a conservative, Han has been suggested as a possible ally of the party to work with in opposition to the liberals in the contest.

The election was sparked by the Constitutional Court’s decision to remove Yoon from office in April after finding that he had gravely violated his duties by imposing martial law on December 3 without explanation.