Conservatives Seek Unity for South Korea's June Snap Election

Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has called for conservatives to unite behind a single presidential candidate ahead of the June 3 snap election, arguing that failure to do so would be a 'great betrayal of the people.' Han is in discussions with Kim Moon-soo, the ruling People Power Party's candidate, to consolidate support and prevent splitting the conservative vote, which could benefit liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party. Recent polls show Lee with nearly 50% support, while Han and Kim trail significantly, and Han appears slightly better positioned than Kim in a hypothetical three-way race. However, the unity effort has caused internal tensions, with Kim criticizing his party for excluding him from the candidacy unification process and expressing frustration over the PPP leadership's handling of negotiations. Han, who recently served as acting president following Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, is leveraging his reputation for managing trade with the United States as part of his campaign. The deadline for registering a unified conservative candidate is May 11, intensifying pressure on both camps to reach an agreement.