Kim Moon-soo, Han Dong-hoon to compete in final round of PPP primary
Eliminated ex-Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo announces retirement from politics
The conservative People Power Party on Tuesday named former Chair Han Dong-hoon and ex-Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo as the two finalists who will compete in the third and final round of its primary to be the party's candidate in the June 3 presidential election.
Of the four contenders that competed throughout the second round, People Power Party Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo and former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo failed to make the cut. Hong, shortly after the announcement, said he would retire from politics, stating, "I will no longer engage in politics." There were originally eight contenders at the start of the primary.
The results for the second round of the primary were determined by weighing in public surveys and votes of party members, unlike the first round, which only took the public opinion polls into consideration. The rates of support from the surveys and the vote counts for the four candidates were not disclosed.
After the announcements were made, Han and Kim both pledged to put in their best efforts to 'protect the country' if they're elected as the People Power Party's sole candidate and president.
'I will do my best to make South Korea great again by overcoming the crisis surrounding the country and the difficulties that our people face,' Kim said in his speech.
Han pointed out that Kim and he are both similar in the ways that they share the mindset to 'protect the country' and highlighted the need to cooperate to compete against Democratic Party of Korea candidate and front-runner Rep. Lee Jae-myung.
'We are both very honest people and we both share the mindset to protect our country. Under the current difficult circumstances surrounding the presidential election, we must (cooperate) as (conservative) candidates against Lee Jae-myung,' Han said.
Han and Kim are set to face off in televised debate sessions scheduled for Wednesday. An electoral vote and public opinion polls will be conducted on Thursday and Friday. The party's sole candidate will be confirmed at a party convention scheduled for Saturday.
The candidate who would ultimately clinch the ruling party's nomination would face off Democratic Party of Korea's candidate Lee Jae-myung in the upcoming June 3 presidential election.
According to a Realmeter survey released Monday, Lee led the poll of preferred presidential candidates with 48.5 percent. Kim came at No. 2 with 13.4 percent, followed by former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo with 10.2 percent and former party chair Han Dong-hoon with 9.7 percent.
Tuesday's announcement came amid growing speculations that acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo may enter the presidential race as an independent conservative candidate. Observers say that Han may attempt to partner up with the People Power Party's presidential candidate after announcing his presidential bid.
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