Kim Moon-soo Nominated by South Korea's Conservatives for June Presidential Election

Kim Moon-soo, a former labor minister and prominent conservative, has been nominated as the presidential candidate for South Korea's People Power Party following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his imposition of martial law. Kim secured 56.5% support in the party primary, benefiting from both party electors and public polls, and now faces liberal Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung, who currently leads in opinion surveys. Kim has pledged business-friendly reforms, support for young workers and the underprivileged, and a hardline stance against North Korea, while also advocating for constitutional and electoral reforms. He has called for party innovation to regain public trust after the political crisis, and criticized what he describes as parliamentary overreach and threats to the separation of powers. Analysts note that Kim’s path to victory may require consolidating conservative support and collaborating with other leaders to overcome Lee's advantage, especially given the volatile political atmosphere and Lee’s ongoing legal issues. The upcoming election is seen as a pivotal moment for South Korean politics, with both legal and political challenges shaping the contest.