Seoul Court Ruling Fuels PPP Candidate Dispute

A Seoul court has permitted the People Power Party (PPP) to host another convention to establish their presidential candidate, amid internal conflicts. With the election nearing, the PPP's unity is vital to succeed against the Democratic Party. However, disagreements between candidates Kim Moon-soo and Han Duck-soo persist.

In a pivotal decision, a Seoul court on Friday allowed the People Power Party (PPP), South Korea's main conservative faction, to organize another convention to finalize a presidential nominee. This ruling comes amidst a heated internal conflict over who should lead the party in the June 3 elections.

As the presidential election approaches, unity within the PPP is deemed essential for challenging the Democratic Party's leading candidate, Lee Jae-myung. Despite efforts to consolidate support, the party's nominee, Kim Moon-soo, has resisted merging his campaign with independent contender Han Duck-soo, leading to public disputes.

The court's decision dismissed appeals from Kim to halt the new convention and injunction against his party. Announcing outside the Seoul Southern District Court, Kim, the official presidential candidate from the PPP primaries, criticized party leaders' efforts to pressure a merger with Han, emphasizing his legitimacy as the chosen candidate.

(With inputs from agencies.)