Star Metro - S.Korea conservative party reinstates candidate after day of turmoil

The People Power Party (PPP) has been in turmoil since its former president Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted after he declared martial law in December.

Last week, Kim won the PPP's primary to run as its candidate in presidential elections on June 3.

But before dawn Saturday, his nomination was cancelled, and the party said it was instead nominating career bureaucrat Han Duck-soo, 75, an ex-acting president who resigned last week to launch a presidential bid, initially as an independent.

Han, also a former prime minister, and Kim had been in talks to merge their candidacies and unify the conservative base, to avoid an opposition landslide at the election, but those negotiations collapsed.

Kim, 73, called the party's decision to cancel his candidacy a "political coup" and illegal.

He then filed a court injunction to suspend the move which the Seoul Southern District Court held a roughly one-hour hearing to review.

Late Saturday, the party announced that its members voted to reject the candidate switch, automatically reinstating Kim as the nominee.

Kim's official registration is "set to take place tomorrow" with the National Election Commission, the party's interim leader Kwon Young-se said.

Kwon said he will resign over his failure to unite conservatives behind a single candidate.

Han, who officially joined the PPP on Saturday, said he humbly accepts the decision by "the people and party members".

Kim thanked the party members and citizens, vowing to "move forward to build a new and greater Republic of Korea", adding "everything will return to its rightful place".

- Shattered internal democracy -

The PPP's about-face came amid fears that not having a unified candidate could further weaken their chances in the election, as liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung widens his lead.

But the last-minute shakeup proved controversial even within the PPP, with primary contenders criticising the leadership -- one saying such a move would be unusual even in North Korea, and another calling on Han and ex-president Yoon to leave the party.

Lee's Democratic Party had also gloated over the PPP's reversal, saying that after being responsible for Yoon's martial law, the party has now "shattered internal democracy -- leaving no justification for its continued existence".

Han has held a range of roles under both liberal and conservative administrations, including finance minister and ambassador to the United States.

But as a former prime minister under Yoon, he has faced criticism for failing to prevent, and alleged complicity with, Yoon's martial law declaration.

Kim shot to public attention as the only cabinet member who refused to bow in apology for failing to prevent Yoon's attempted suspension of civilian rule and for opposing his impeachment.

Kim, also a former three-term lawmaker, spent around two decades as a labour and pro-democracy activist fighting military authoritarian regimes -- including serving a jail term -- but later said he shifted his views following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

A National Barometer Survey released this week showed Lee -- who currently faces multiple criminal trials -- leading Kim 43 percent to 29 percent.

In a separate match-up scenario, Lee held a 44 percent to 34 percent advantage over Han.

S.Cloutier--SMC