Kweon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, said on the 15th, "Acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will not run in the People Power Party primary," and noted, "Therefore, additional mentions of candidacy do not help with the primary's excitement as well as the important tasks to be carried out as acting prime minister."
This is interpreted as drawing a line against the so-called 'presidential candidacy theory' surrounding the acting prime minister in and out of political circles.
The floor leader made these remarks during a national assembly strategy meeting on the morning of that day.
Previously, the acting prime minister stated on the 14th regarding the response to the trade war originating from the United States, "I will fulfill the last mission assigned to me," but he did not mention the presidential election. He is also reported to not participate in the candidate registration for the People Power Party, which ends that day.
However, if demands for the acting prime minister's candidacy continue from the People Power Party and others until early May when candidates are confirmed, there are observations that the possibility of unification with the People Power Party candidate remains alive.
Kweon Seong-dong stated, "We must clearly recognize the nature of this presidential election," and said, "Former President Yoon Suk-yeol has faced legal judgment due to impeachment. Now it is the turn of Lee Jae-myung, the candidate from the Democratic Party of Korea, who is the main culprit of national destruction, to face the public's judgment through the election."
He emphasized, "We must move forward by leaving behind the forces of Lee Jae-myung," and added, "We must overcome the forces of Lee Jae-myung that will lead Korea into endless political strife and division."
Kweon Seong-dong remarked, "The starting point of the main election depends on how we conduct the primary," and said, "The Democratic Party's presidential primary is nothing but a nomination ceremony for candidate Lee Jae-myung. We must show a more overwhelming dignity and protocol than that."