Kim Moon-soo secures candidacy after failed ouster attempt

SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - A last-ditch effort by the ruling conservative People Power Party (PPP) to replace its presidential nominee has ended in turmoil, exposing deep fractures within the party just ahead of the registration deadline. The party leadership’s attempt to replace Kim Moon-soo, the candidate who won the party’s primary, with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo unraveled within 24 hours following fierce internal opposition and a narrow defeat in a party-wide v

May 11, 2025

PPP fails to replace presidential candidate as party vote blocks leadership's last-minute move

SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - In a dramatic turn just one day before official presidential campaigning begins, South Korea’s conservative People Power Party (PPP) failed in its attempt to replace its presidential nominee, Kim Moon-soo, after a party-wide vote rejected the leadership’s emergency push to install former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as the new candidate. The internal vote, conducted via an automated response survey (ARS) from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, asked

May 11, 2025

Han Duck-soo calls for unity in first press conference after nomination turmoil

SEOUL, May 10 (AJP) - Han Duck-soo, the newly designated presidential candidate of the People Power Party (PPP), called for party unity and national reconciliation during a press conference held at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday as the party pressed forward with its decision to replace former labor minister Kim Moon-soo amid deep internal division and legal wrangling. “I never once dreamed of running for president,” Han said in his opening remarks. “But I came to believe

May 10, 2025

PPP defends candidate switch as last resort, Kim calls move illegal political purge

SEOUL, May 10 (AJP) - The People Power Party (PPP) on Saturday defended its decision to revoke Kim Moon-soo’s presidential nomination and initiate the selection of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as its new candidate, describing the move as an emergency measure in response to failed unification talks and mounting internal division. The party’s leadership maintains that the action was legal. Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly, PPP emergency committ

May 10, 2025

Kim Moon-soo calls PPP candidate switch a 'political coup,' vows legal fight

SEOUL, May 10 (AJP) - In a press conference held at 9:50 a.m. on Saturday, Kim Moon-soo condemned the People Power Party’s (PPP) early-morning decision to strip him of his presidential candidacy and replace him with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. Calling the move a “political coup,” Kim declared his intent to pursue legal and political action against party leaders and urged the public to stand with him in what he described as a fight to defend South Korea&rsquo

May 10, 2025

PPP moves to replace Kim Moon-soo with Han Duck-soo as presidential nominee

SEOUL, May 10 (AJP) - The People Power Party (PPP) launched an unprecedented candidate replacement process early Saturday morning, canceling Kim Moon-soo’s nomination and registering former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as its new presidential candidate, following the collapse of unification talks between the two conservative contenders. At around 3 a.m. on May 10, PPP election committee chair Lee Yang-soo announced via the party's website that Han had been officially r

May 10, 2025

Excitement builds early for New Pope's planned visit to Seoul

SEOUL, May 9 (AJP) - With a new pope elected to lead the Roman Catholic Church at the Vatican on Thursday, religious leaders and other faithful here are expressing high expectations. Although they may have to wait a few more years to see the new pope in person, excitement is already building ahead of his planned visit to Seoul in 2027. White smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on the second day of the Vatican's conclave, attended by nearly 130 cardinals,

May 9, 2025

Kim and Han clash over timing, legitimacy in second unification talks

SEOUL, May 08 (AJP) - Presidential candidates Kim Moon-soo and Han Duck-soo met for a second round of unification talks on Thursday, but the discussion once again revealed sharp differences over the timing and terms of a potential single candidacy. The meeting, held at the National Assembly’s Sarangjae at 4:30 p.m., was fully open to the press by prior agreement between both camps. Han, an independent candidate and former prime minister, pushed for immediate resolution, s

May 8, 2025

Clock ticking for PPP as internal rift stalls progress on unified conservative candidate

SEOUL, May 8 (AJP) - Tensions are escalating within the ruling People Power Party (PPP) as internal wrangling continues over fielding a unified conservative candidate, with the snap presidential election less than a month away. The PPP’s presidential nominee, Kim Moon-soo, had expressed a willingness to team up with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who declared his presidential bid last week. However, Kim now appears to have changed his mind shortly after being chosen as th

May 8, 2025

Han Duck-soo calls for unity and reform in presidential campaign

SEOUL, May 08 (AJP) - Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo made a strong case for constitutional reform and conservative unity during a press conference at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club on Wednesday, saying he would rather fix the country’s broken political system than chase long-term power. “I'm not here to be just another candidate. I'm here because our system is in crisis,” Han said, speaking with a mix of urgency and conviction. “Wh

May 8, 2025