Conservative candidate’s loyalty to ousted president alienates moderates

People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo gives a thumbs-up aboard a helicopter during his visit to Korean Aviation Engineering and Maintenance Service in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps

People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo's reluctance to sever ties with former President Yoon Suk Yeol is increasingly alienating moderate voters — a group widely seen as critical to securing victory in the June 3 snap election.

As the conservative party struggles to rebuild public trust following Yoon's impeachment, how Kim navigates his relationship with Yoon and his tarnished legacy has emerged as a key test of his candidacy.

A former labor minister and staunch conservative, Kim has ruled out the possibility of expelling Yoon from the party, despite growing calls from within the PPP for a clean break from the disgraced former president.

"I believe the (former) president will make a wise decision. It is right to respect his own judgment," Kim told reporters Wednesday during a visit to Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, when asked about expelling Yoon.

Kim's tepid stance followed his first public apology on Monday for Yoon’s declaration of martial law late last year. "I sincerely feel sorry for the people who are suffering from the martial law," he said in a media interview.

The former labor minister had previously defended Yoon’s martial law and was the only former Cabinet member who refused to apologize during a National Assembly hearing last December.

While his reversal appears aimed at broadening his appeal beyond the conservative base, critics have questioned the sincerity of the apology, citing his continued refusal to take a clear position on Yoon’s expulsion from the PPP.

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol leaves a courtroom at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, Monday, after attending his insurrection trial. Joint Press Corps

Shortly after issuing his apology, Kim appointed attorney Seok Dong-hyeon — a close ally of Yoon and a member of his legal team during the impeachment proceedings — to lead the civil society committee in his election campaign.

That appointment only fueled suspicions about Kim's ties to Yoon, with the rival Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) accusing him of deceiving the public by reversing his position.

Kim Yong-tae, the party’s interim leader nominee, also struck an ambiguous tone on the issue.

"There are many different views among party members and the public. Over the next 20 days of the campaign, we’ll try to find a solution that satisfies as many people as possible," he said Wednesday in a CBS radio interview.

Yoon, who is currently on trial for insurrection, endorsed Kim and called for conservative unity in a statement released shortly after the candidate officially registered his bid Sunday. His message sparked public backlash and drew criticism even from some conservatives, who said Yoon's involvement does nothing to help the PPP's struggling campaign.

If Kim fails to distance himself from the disgraced president, critics warn that Yoon may continue to exert influence throughout the campaign.

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol and then-Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo shake hands during an appointment ceremony at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Aug. 30, 2024. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seog

"Breaking away from Yoon’s misrule over the past three years and his martial law is essential for us to win the election," PPP lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo wrote on Facebook.

Some conservative commentators have predicted that Yoon may voluntarily leave the party in the coming days to avoid the indignity of being expelled.

Meanwhile, recent polls suggest that broadening appeal beyond the conservative base remains an uphill battle for the PPP candidate.

According to a Gallup Korea survey released on Wednesday, DPK candidate Lee Jae-myung was leading with 51 percent support, followed by Kim with 31 percent and Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party with 8 percent.

Among self-identified moderates, 56 percent said they supported Lee, compared to 22 percent for Kim.

Gallup surveyed 1,002 people aged 18 and older from Monday to Tuesday. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.