April 16, 2025
Seoul – With less than 50 days remaining until the June 3 presidential election, South Korea's two largest political parties, the South Korean Democratic Party and the People's Power Party, have opened their main competitions to select their presidential candidates.
The early presidential election came after a unanimous ruling of the Constitutional Court to confirm former President Yoon Suk Yeol's improvisation for him in his December declaration of martial arts weapons.
So far, the Democratic Party has only two candidates – Kim Kyung-soo, close aide to former President Moon Jae-In and Governor of Jiongji Province, Kim Dong-Yeon has joined Rep. Lee Jae-Myung, a former leader who was a former leader in the film that won the nomination.
Lee, who is still on the court date before the election, took a low-key approach ahead of the party’s main work, minimizing face-to-face schedule until the nomination is finalized. He announced the president's bid via YouTube videos.
Unlike other candidates with open access to open visits, only a few journalists can access the events he attends. He also retained a slim campaign team composed of party insiders.
Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim targeted young voters with flexible working hours and policy proposals for mandatory military service for men and turned to volunteer recruitment, including women.
The People's Power Party, which has an increasing number of competitors, will hold a public vote by April 22 to get the field to four top choices before dropping it to the last two times by April 29. The nominee will be finalized on May 3.
High-profile names on the main tickets of the People's Electric Power Party so far include Kim Moon-soo, who, until recently, Yoon's Labor Minister. Hong Joon-Pyo resigns as mayor of conservative stronghold Daegu runs for president; Han Dong-hoon resigns from the BJP leader after the collapse of Yuanwu Shu. five times Rep. Na Kyung-Won; and Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of Yoon’s transition team.
Acting President Han Duck-soo will not enter the BJP floor leader Rep. Kweon Seong-Dong said Tuesday that he would ultimately speculate whether he would.
“Let's remember that this president's primary should be to pick the right person to bring Lee Jae-Myung to justice. This is a common task that we all share together,” Cwayne said. “All efforts to join the acting president will help anyone.”
The candidates of the People’s Power Party have been rallying around the “Anti-Lee Jehovah” agenda, each campaign aims to defeat the former Democratic leader who is currently a major lead over his conservative challenger.
The Democratic primary election rules announced over the weekend also sparked complaints from candidates who believe Lee’s popularity among party registered voters is a difficult obstacle to clear.
Democrats are limiting voter qualifications to “stop external intervention” during the nomination process. All major competitors except Lee oppose the decision, believing that expanding participation of registered party members will help ensure that nominees reflect the wishes of all Koreans.
The rules prompted one of the contenders, former MP Kim Doo-Kwan, to withdraw. King said that traditionally, the Democrats have opened up their primary elections for all voters across party affiliations.
“When will we have a primary election that restricts participation?” he posed on Monday.
Rep. Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Party’s acting leader, said at a meeting of party leaders on Tuesday that the closed primary election rules are designed to “ensure a winner that is more aligned with the party.”
The Democrats will select the final nominee on April 27 or May 1.
On the other hand, the People's Power Party said it would open its main first round, allowing unaffiliated voters to participate in selecting its preferred candidate for the party's nomination.
The party explained that this is to have a “non-party primary election.”
Beyond the two largest parties, Rep. Lee Jun-Seok, a small reformist party, led Yoon's presidential campaign, when he was the leader of the then People's Power Party, who had already entered the campaign.
