Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, begins a hunger strike urging the unification of Kim Moon-soo and Han Duck-soo.
Pressure from the party for unification towards the party's presidential candidate, Kim Moon-soo, continues.
In this context, on the 7th, Kwon Seong-dong strongly urged Kim to unify with independent candidate Han Duck-soo, and initiated a hunger strike.
During a meeting of lawmakers held in the National Assembly that afternoon, Kwon stated, “I feel an urgency that we can no longer retreat,” and added, "I earnestly, truly earnestly appeal to Candidate Kim. Please reflect upon the desires of the people and party members, as well as our responsibilities to future generations."
He further remarked, "Many lawmakers have already entered into a hunger strike to urge unification," and questioned, “In front of the desperate cries of the elders who say they can no longer watch this country crumble, I am left speechless. Is this okay?”
Emphasizing the urgency of unification as the election approaches
Kwon mentioned that the meeting between the two candidates ended without results, saying, “Considering that the candidate registration is on the 11th, today is the last line where we can minimize confusion.”
He continued, “During the primaries, Candidate Kim promised a swift unification. Many members of our party trusted this promise and declared their support,” asserting, “A significant promise made by a politician, especially one aiming for high office, must be kept.”
Additionally, he pointed out, “There are only 27 days left until the election. We have no time left,” and stated, “The Lee Jae-myung faction is effectively abolishing the crime of false facts under the Public Election Act and even threatening to impeach the Chief Justice, trying to cut off the last breath of the constitutional order in the Republic of Korea. In contrast, we cannot even form a united front.”
Kwon asserted, “We must aim for unity through swift unification. We have a historic responsibility to prevent the Lee Jae-myung faction from taking power,” and emphasized, “The starting point is the unification of candidates. We must definitely block the Lee Jae-myung dictatorship.”
Finally, he urged, “There is no victory without unification. There is no freedom. If we cannot make a decision now, we will not be forgiven by future generations,” stressing, “It is not about who wins, but who can defeat Lee Jae-myung that is important. That is the command of history. It is time to act. I sincerely hope for your cooperation.”
Earlier that day, prior to Kwon, some senior advisors from the People Power Party, including Yoo Joon-sang and Kim Moo-sung, also began hunger strikes urging unification.
Yoo stated, “Unification is the command of the people and party members,” adding, “If anyone opposes unification, that person is a traitor to the people and party members.”
Meanwhile, discussions on unification between candidate Kim Moon-soo and independent candidate Han Duck-soo have not yet found common ground.
The outcome of unification among the conservative camp is expected to be an important variable in the election results.
Concerns are growing within the People Power Party that if unification does not occur, votes will be divided, potentially benefiting the Democratic Party led by Lee Jae-myung.
Image source: Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, begins an indefinite hunger strike in the National Assembly’s rotunda in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 7th, urging presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo to promise unification. 2025.5.8 / News1. Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, speaks after a meeting regarding unification with independent presidential candidate Han Duck-soo at a restaurant in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 7th. (Joint coverage) 2025.5.7 / News1. Han Duck-soo, the independent presidential candidate, gets out of a vehicle to meet with People Power Party’s presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo for candidate unification at a restaurant in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 7th. (Joint coverage) 2025.5.7 / News1.
