Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, addresses a general meeting of party lawmakers at the National Assembly in Seoul on May 9, 2025. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 9 (Korea Bizwire) — A Seoul court on Friday dismissed an injunction request filed by Kim Moon-soo, presidential candidate of the conservative People Power Party (PPP), seeking recognition of his candidacy status.
The Seoul Southern District Court dismissed Kim’s petition, which was aimed at compelling the party to recognize him as its official presidential candidate, amid internal party strife over whether to merge Kim’s campaign with that of former Acting President Han Duck-soo.
The court said it found no “practical benefit in seeking a ruling on the injunction” as the PPP “is not completely refuting Kim’s eligibility as a candidate.”
It also dismissed a separate petition filed by Kim’s supporters to ban the holding of the National Committee and the National Convention, set for this weekend,which Kim had criticized as a ploy to replace him.
With the court’s decision, the PPP now has the legal leeway to grant the party’s presidential candidacy status to Han.
Kim won the PPP primary last week but has since come under intense pressure from the party leadership to merge campaigns with Han, an independent candidate, who has polled better in hypothetical matchups with front-runner Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party.
Kim has vowed to take all necessary legal measures to maintain his status and register his candidacy by Sunday’s deadline.
(Yonhap)
